Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Algeria (Ratification: 1984)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

1. With reference to its previous comments on the application of Article 2 of the Convention, the Committee takes due note of the provisions of section 15 of Act No. 90-11 of 21 April 1990 respecting labour relations, which also applies in the agricultural sector, under which the minimum age for hiring a person for employment can in no circumstances be lower than 15 years.

The Committee recalls that the Convention covers not only employment or work performed in the context of a contractual relationship, but also employment or work done on their own account by the persons concerned. It asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated to establish a minimum age for admission to non-wage-earning work.

2. The Committee notes that section 4 of Act No. 90-11 referred to above, specifies that special provisions shall be made in regulations to define the specific system of employment relationships relating to actors and show people. The Committee hopes that these specific provisions will give effect to Article 8 of the Convention which, in individual cases, allows children under the age of 16 to participate in activities such as artistic performances under certain conditions (limitation of the number of hours of such work and fixing the conditions of employment), after consultation with the organizations of employers and workers concerned. It asks the Government to report on any progress made in this respect.

3. The Committee notes that section 156 of Act No. 90-11 referred to above specifies that the specific books and registers to be kept by all employers, as well as their content, shall be prescribed by regulations. It hopes that the regulations adopted under the above-mentioned section will also require such books and registers to indicate the names, ages or dates of birth of persons under the age of 18 employed or working in the enterprise, in accordance with the provisions of Article 9, paragraph 3, of the Convention.