Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the Government's latest report and the information supplied therein in response to its previous observations.

With reference to its earlier comments, the Committee recalls that it has for some years noted that section 31 of the Labour Code, which makes general allowance for extending normal working hours by permitting the parties to an employment contract to agree to work two additional hours in the day in jobs which by their nature do not harm the health of the worker, violate the Convention, which specifies that exceptions to normal hours of work may only be made in the cases provided for in Article 7 of the Convention. It wishes to draw the Government's attention to the fact that the limitation to hours of work determined by Article 3 of the Convention are restricting in character, notwithstanding the permanent or temporary exceptions specified by the Convention, and that they may not be altered by contractual changes, even where these are provided for by law.

The Committee again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to bring its legislation into conformity with the Convention on this point.