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

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Niger (Ratification: 1978)

Article 3(3) of the Convention. Authorization to employ children in hazardous work from the age of 16 years. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, for certain types of hazardous work, Decree No. 67 126/MFP/T of 7 September 1967 authorizes the employment of young persons over 16 years of age. It also noted that occupational health and safety committees are established in enterprises and that they are responsible for training and awareness raising on safety. The Committee notes the statement by the Government representative to the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards, according to which it is rare for child workers to be identified because occupational safety and health committees are only established in enterprises with over 50 employed persons. However, the Government indicated that a national coordination unit has been established, which has led to various activities for the training of members of occupational safety and health committees. The Conference Committee strongly encourage the Government to ensure that occupational health and safety committees carry out awareness-raising activities and training to ascertain that the conditions of work of young persons do not jeopardize their health and safety or their well-being. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that enterprise occupational safety and health committees ensure that the working conditions of young persons between the ages of 16 and 18 years are not such as to jeopardize their health and safety, in accordance with Article 3(3) of the Convention. It also requests it to provide information on the measures taken with a view to protecting the health and safety of young persons engaged in the hazardous types of work authorized by Decree No. 67-126/MFP/T of 7 September 1967 in enterprises with fewer than 50 employed persons, in which occupational safety and health committees have not been established.