Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Minimum Age (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 (No. 123) - Gabon (Ratification: 1968)

Article 2(1) of the Convention. Minimum age. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that Gabon ratified the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), on 25 October 2010 and set a minimum age for admission to employment or work of 16 years, or an age that is lower than the one specified in the Convention for any types of employment or work which by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out is likely to jeopardize the health, safety or morals of young persons. The Committee however notes with satisfaction that, under the terms of section 177 of the Labour Code, as amended by Ordinance No. 018/PR/2010 of 25 February 2010, the types of work considered to be the worst forms of child labour, including work performed underground or in confined spaces, are prohibited for children and young persons under 18 years of age. The Committee accordingly draws the Government’s attention to the fact that a formal declaration specifying the application of Article 3 of Convention No. 138 to underground work would result in the immediate denunciation of the present Convention. In view of the above, the Committee encourages the Government to envisage the possibility of communicating a declaration specifying that Article 3 of Convention No. 138 applies to underground work, thereby resulting in the denunciation of the present Convention.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.