Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1989, published 76th ILC session (1989)

Article 7 of the Convention. Further to its previous direct request, the Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government, indicating that the employment of children under 15 years of age in agriculture, as permitted under section 3 of Act No. 977 of 17 October 1967, is limited to such employment which does not interfere with their school attendance and is compatible with the necessary standards for the protection of their health and that the labour inspection ensures that these provisions are observed. The Government also refers to section 14 of the Act prescribing that loads to be carried by children shall not exceed 10 kilograms. Finally, the Government states that it has submitted to the Parliament a draft Act on reforms in secondary education prescribing that the age of compulsory schooling shall be increased to 16 years. The Committee hopes that on the occasion of the consequent revision of Act No. 977, the Government will find it possible to add a provision expressly providing that the employment or work of children below the minimum age in agriculture may be permitted only on light work, as is presently the case in non-industrial branches of activity under section 4 of Act No. 977.

Point V of the report form. The Committee requests the Government in its next report to supply statistics on the practical application of the legislation giving effect to the Convention, and to specify, in particular, the number of children employed under section 3 of Act No. 977.