CMNT_TITLE

The Committee recalls that the minimum age of 16 years was specified under Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention as regards Azerbaijan. It notes with regret that the new Labour Code in article 42(3), allows a person who has reached the age of 15 to be part of an employment contract; article 249(1) of the same Code specifies that "persons who are under the age of 15 shall not be employed under any circumstances". Moreover, the Individual Contracts of Employment Agreement Act, section 12(2), sets the minimum age for concluding an employment contract at 14 years. The Committee points out again that the Convention allows and encourages the raising of the minimum age but does not permit lowering of the minimum age once specified. Therefore, the Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged, pursuant to its declaration under Article 2, to ensure that access to employment of children of 14 and 15 years of age may be allowed exceptionally, only for work that meets the criteria set out in Article 7.