Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Syrian Arab Republic (Ratification: 2001)

Article 3(3) of the Convention. Admission to hazardous work as from 16 years of age. Agricultural work. The Committee previously noted that section 2 of Order No. 972 (of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour) of 7 May 2006 which specifies a list of tiring jobs in the agricultural sector is prohibited only to children under 15 years of age. In this regard, recalling that Article 3(3) of the Convention permits the performance of hazardous work, under very specific conditions, only from the age of 16 years, the Committee urged the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that no child under the age of 16 is permitted to engage in hazardous work in the agricultural sector.

The Committee notes the Government’s clarification with regard to the prohibition in question. The Committee notes that according to section 10 of the Law regulating Agricultural Relations of 2004, no person who has not completed the age of 18 years shall be engaged in agricultural works, except for persons who are at least 15 years old who may be permitted to work in light agricultural work. Section 18 of the Law regulating Agricultural Relations further prohibits the employment of young persons in tiring types of work which do not suit their age and entrusts the Minister to identify such work. The Committee further notes that Order No. 972 adopted pursuant to section 18 of the Law on Agricultural Relations, specifies a list of tiring types of work in the agricultural sector which are prohibited to young persons (section 2).