Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - United Arab Emirates (Ratification: 1998)

Article 6 of the Convention. Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship. The Committee previously observed that, according to section 42 of the Labour Code, the minimum age to enter into an apprenticeship contract (defined as the contract whereby the employer undertakes to provide the employee full vocational training) was 12 years. It also noted the Government’s statement that the draft amended text of section 42 of the Labour Code stipulated 15 years as the minimum age for being accepted into training or vocational education, and noted that this draft was under examination and awaiting approval by the Parliament.

The Committee notes with concern the Government’s statement in its report that the draft amendment to section 42 of the Labour Code is still under examination. Considering that the Government has been referring to the amendment to the Labour Code concerning the minimum age for apprenticeships for 15 years, the Committee once again urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the draft amended section 42 is adopted in the very near future. It once again requests that the Government keep it informed of any progress in this regard, and to provide a text of the amended provision as soon as it has been adopted.