Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes the Government’s report. It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (d). Hazardous work. In its previous comments, the Committee had expressed concern for the health and safety of children under 18 years of age involved in camel racing and subject to exploitation. It had noted the Government’s statement that the Omani Labour Code does not allow for the employment of children under 18 years of age in hazardous work. According to the Government, camel races are a traditional and popular national sport from ancient times practised by adults and children and only Omani children ride as camel jockeys. The latter are not hired workers riding camels in return for a wage and, accordingly, the jockeys are not child labourers. The Committee had further noted that the Regulations on holding and organizing camel races in the Sultanate of Oman, issued by the Oman Equestrian and Camel Federation on 7 August 2005, state that no jockey under 18 years of age will be allowed to take part in camel races in the Sultanate of Oman. It had observed, however, that section 2 of these regulations states that the minimum age of 18 years for taking part in camel races would be reached progressively starting from a minimum age of 14 years, over four years starting from the 2005–06 season. The Committee had noted that the Government adopted a number of wide-ranging measures aimed at protecting the health and safety of camel jockeys under 18 years and providing them with training. While welcoming the measures aimed at protecting the health and safety of camel jockeys, it had considered that camel racing was inherently dangerous to the health and safety of children. It requested the Government to ensure that the measures to protect the health and safety of camel jockeys under 18 years of age were strictly enforced, pending the progressive increase in the minimum age to 18 for camel racing.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that the Omani Federation of Camel Racing fully observes the measures set down to protect the health and safety of camel jockeys under 18 years of age. In particular, it undertakes preventive measures to ensure the safety and security of camel jockeys in camel races, by obliging them to wear protective headgear and suitable clothing. It also notes the Government’s information that races only occur in Oman when the Omani Federation of Camel Racing – working under direct supervision of the Ministry of Sport Activities – agrees that all conditions are respected: camel jockeys are not young, they enjoy good health and conditions regarding the safety measures are fulfilled. According to the Government, the Omani Federation of Camel Racing continues to undertake unannounced inspection visits to verify that the age of camel jockeys is not less than 15 years. Since the Council of Ministers has approved the decision to increase the age of camel jockeys to 18 years, the Omani Federation of Camel Racing has issued a decision which specifies the gradual increase in the age of camel jockeys to 18 years in 2010, in order to take part in camel races. Meanwhile, in 2007, all camel jockeys participating in camel races are required to register their names with the Omani Federation of Camel Racing and hand over their passports, personal photographs and birth certificates to the Federation.

The Committee observes that, according to the Government’s information, the minimum age for taking part in camel races has been progressively raised from 14 to 15 years, in accordance with the Regulations on holding and organizing camel races in the Sultanate of Oman of 7 August 2005. It welcomes the measures taken by the Omani Federation of Camel Racing to increase supervision on the legal requirements that camel jockeys must fulfil to participate in camel races, especially on the legal age to participate in these races. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure that the measures aimed at protecting the health and safety of camel jockeys under 18 years of age are strictly enforced, pending the progressive increase in the minimum age to 18 for camel racing. In this regard, it urges the Government to ensure that unannounced inspections are carried out by the labour inspectorate to ensure that children between 15 and 18 years of age do not perform their work under circumstances that are detrimental to their health and safety. It also requests the Government to continue providing information on the progress in raising the minimum age for taking part in camel races to 18 years.

Article 7, paragraph 1. Penalties. The Committee had previously noted that Decision No. 30-2002 of 8 August 2005 of the Omani Federation of Camel Racing states that any person who violates the Regulations on holding and organizing camel races in the Sultanate of Oman of 2005 shall be convicted by the court. It had requested the Government to indicate the applicable penalties under Decision No. 30-2002 of 8 August 2005. The Committee notes that the Government provides a document showing the list of names of camel jockeys prohibited from participating in camel races by the Omani Federation of Camel Racing due to violations of the regulations on racing. Two of these cases regard violations of the rules on the legal age to participate in camel races. The Committee observes that the Government’s report contains no information on the penalties imposed on persons who use under‑age children as camel jockeys in camel races in violation of Decision No. 30-2002 of 8 August 2005. It once again requests the Government to provide information on the penalties imposed on any person who employs a child as a camel jockey in violation of Decision No. 30-2002 of 8 August 2005.

The Committee is also addressing a direct request to the Government concerning other points.