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

Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948 (No. 89) - Mauritania (Ratification: 1963)

Article 3 of the Convention. General prohibition of night work for women. The Committee notes that sections 164–169 of the Labour Code of 2004 essentially reproduce the provisions of the previous Labour Code of 1963 with respect to night work of women and children. It appears from these provisions that it is prohibited to employ women for night work in factories, works, mines and quarries, worksites, workshops and any premises attached thereto, while exceptions may be granted only for work to preserve perishable material or with respect to women employed in health and welfare services. In this connection, the Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report that, as part of the modernization of its labour legislation in 2015, it plans to draw from the 1990 Protocol to Convention No. 89 – which opens up the possibility for women to work at night under certain well-specified conditions – and that it will involve the Office in order to ensure compliance of the new legislation with international labour standards. The Committee recalls that the Night Work Convention, 1990 (No. 171), is also relevant in that it is not devised as a gender-specific instrument but focuses on the protection of all night workers in all branches and occupations. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any development regarding the abovementioned issues.