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

Medical Examination of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Occupations) Convention, 1946 (No. 78) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1970)

The Committee notes the observations of the General Union of Workers of Cameroon (UGTC) received on 3 October 2016, as well as the Government’s report.

Article 1 of the Convention. Scope of application. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that there were no provisions in the national legislation ensuring the application of the Convention to children and young persons working on their own account, as employees and apprentices are covered by the provisions of Order No. 17 of 27 May 1969 and the Labour Code. It also noted that the Government had reiterated that medical examinations for young persons were to be extended, inter alia, to young persons engaged on their own account in the informal economy and that some municipalities had done this for one category of workers. The Committee further noted the observations of the UGTC to the effect that, although provision is made for systematic inspections in the formal economy, no measures had been taken for young persons in the informal economy, despite the efforts made for young people in the context of combating HIV/AIDS. The Government indicated that it was very difficult to get young persons working in the informal economy to undergo a medical examination for fitness for employment, as it was unable to exercise any control over employers in that sector. The Committee nonetheless noted the Government’s indication that some young persons in the informal economy, such as casual street vendors with sales spaces provided by the public services, benefit from medical examinations. In view of the large number of children who work in the informal economy, particularly on their own account, the Committee expressed the firm hope that the Government would report in the very near future the progress made in ensuring the application of the Convention.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the Labour Code is being revised and will include a new definition of “worker” so that workers in the formal and informal economies benefit from the same protection. However, the Committee notes that, according to the observations of the UGTC, no new measures have been taken to ensure the application of the Convention. Recalling that children who work on their own account are covered by Article 1(c) the Convention, the Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to make progress in the reform of the Labour Code and to ensure that the Convention is applied in law and practice to all young workers covered by the Convention, including those working in the informal economy. It requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in the reform and to provide a copy of the new Labour Code when it has been adopted.