Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Maternity Protection Convention, 1919 (No. 3) - Gabon (Ratification: 1961)

Article 3(a) of the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, in particular the information concerning the adoption of the new Labour Code (Act No. 3/94 of 21 November 1994). The Committee notes that, under the terms of section 171, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Labour Code, it is prohibited for an employer knowingly to employ a pregnant woman during the six weeks before and during the eight weeks after the presumed date of confinement, unless a written agreement to that effect is concluded by the parties at the initiative of the employee. The Committee recalls that Article 3(a) makes the postnatal period of leave obligatory and does not provide for any exceptions, even with the worker's consent. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to bring its legislation into conformity with this provision of the Convention.