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Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Israel (RATIFICATION: 1979)

Article 6 of the Convention. Apprenticeship and hazardous work. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted that, under the terms of the Youth Employment Regulations (Prohibited Jobs and Restricted Jobs) No. 1756-1995, young persons under 16 years of age may be engaged in hazardous work during their apprenticeship. It noted that in 2009, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour issued a circular on new arrangements of employment of apprentices (circular of 2009) which contained employment instructions and directives to the directors of educational establishments. The Committee also noted that the competent authorities were envisaging the possibility of adopting youth apprenticeship safety rules within the framework of the Apprenticeship Law No. 5713-1953. In this regard, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that the authorities were in the process of carrying out a comprehensive examination and mapping of the work processes and materials to which apprentices are exposed to during their work.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the issue relating to the adoption of youth apprenticeship safety rules has not yet been settled. The Government states that the relevant department considered that the circular of 2009 is an optimal solution as no cases of injury among apprentices have been recorded.

Article 7(1) and (3). Light work and the determination of these types of activities. The Committee previously noted that section 2(c) of Youth Labour Law No. 5713-1953, provides that the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare may, in general or in specific cases, permit the employment of a child who is 14 years old and in respect of whom exemption has been granted from attending school.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the process of determining light work activities is still ongoing. The Committee hopes that the regulations determining the activities permitted as light work and the number of working hours allowed in this type of employment in accordance with Article 7(3) of the Convention will be finalized soon. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard and to supply a copy of the regulations once they have been adopted.