Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Mauritania (Ratification: 2001)

Article 3(3) of the Convention. Admission of children to hazardous work from the age of 16 years. In its previous comments, the Committee expressed the firm hope that Order No. 239 of 17 September 1954, as amended by Order No. 10.300 of 2 June 1965 concerning child labour, and Order No. R-030 of 26 May 1992 would be amended to authorize the performance of hazardous work by young persons aged between 16 and 18 years only in accordance with the provisions of Article 3(3) of the Convention.

The Committee notes that Order No. 0066/MFPT of 17 January 2022 on the list of hazardous work prohibited for children prohibits the employment of children of either sex in hazardous work harmful to their physical or mental health, in establishments of any kind whether agricultural, commercial or industrial, public or private, even when these establishments are of a religious, vocational or charitable nature, including family businesses or private homes. Section 6 of the Order provides that all previous provisions contrary to those of the Order are repealed. The Committee requests the Government to confirm whether the provisions of Orders 239 and R-030 allowing children between the ages of 16 and 18 years to perform hazardous work have indeed been repealed by the provisions of Order No. 0066/MFPT of 2022.

Article 7(3). Determination of light work.Noting with regret the absence of information in this regard in the Government’s report, the Committee expresses the firm hope that the Government will take the necessary measures so that the activities in which the employment or work of children between 12 and 14 years of age is permitted under section 154 of the Labour Code are determined by the competent authority, in conformity with Article 7(3) of the Convention. It once again requests the Government to provide information on progress made in this respect.