Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1989, published 76th ILC session (1989)

Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30) - Iraq (Ratification: 1962)

Article 7, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with satisfaction that the new Labour Code No. 71 of 1987 no longer provides for temporary exceptions to normal working hours in the event of work being required for the purposes of developing or increasing production.

Article 7, paragraph 3. The Committee takes note of section 63 II(c) of the new Labour Code which maintains the possibility of working up to four additional hours in a day in non-industrial activities. This possibility can imply weekly or annual working hours that are far too high and which, in the Committee's opinion, could be contrary to the spirit in which the Convention was formulated (see in this connection the Committee's General Survey on this instrument, ILC, 51st Session, 1967, Report III (Part IV), third part, para. 239).

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would take the necessary measures to establish, within reasonable limits, the maximum number of additional hours which may be allowed in the year, in accordance with this provision of this Convention.

Article 11, paragraph 2(a) and (b). See under Convention No. 1, Article 8, paragraph 1(a) and (b), as follows:

Article 6, paragraph 1(b), of the Convention. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with satisfaction that the new Labour Code, No. 71 of 1987, no longer provides for temporary exceptions to normal working hours in cases in which the work is required for development needs or in order to increase production.

Article 6, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that section 63 II(b) of the new Labour Code maintains the possibility of carrying out up to four hours of additional work per day in preparatory and supplementary work in industry or in order to meet extraordinary work demands; it notes that this provision no longer even refers to the temporary nature of the exception as did the former legislation. Such a possibility might imply considerably too many weekly or annual working hours which, in the Committee's opinion, could be in direct contradiction to the spirit in which this Convention was drafted (see in this connection the Committee's 1967 general survey on this instrument, International Labour Conference, 51st Session, 1967, Report III (Part IV), third part, paragraph 239).

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would take the appropriate measures to establish a reasonable limit, in conformity with the Convention's objectives, on the maximum number of supplementary hours which may be worked, for instance on a yearly basis.

Article 8, paragraph 1(a) and (b). The Committee notes that the new Labour Code contains no provisions on posting notices of working hours and rest periods. It requests the Government to take the measures necessary to give effect to these provisions of the Convention.