Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Mauritius (Ratification: 1990)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and, in particular, the information regarding the application of Article 4 of the Convention. It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention.  The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in the action plan for a new education system, one of the pillars of reform is the introduction of a cycle of nine-year compulsory and fundamental education up to the age of 15 years which would mitigate the problem of premature leaving at secondary level. The Committee requests the Government to indicate when it plans to introduce the new education system. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation of this new education system.

Article 3.  The Committee notes that the review exercise in connection with the Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act 1988 is not over. It notes that the Government intends to amend section 28 of the said Act to make it consistent with the provisions of Article 3 of the Convention. It requests the Government to continue to supply information on any development made in this regard.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that persons aged between 15 and 18 seeking employment may be employed on board ship on work which is not harmful to health, dangerous or otherwise unsuitable for a young person although the minimum age to be employed on board ship is 16. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on measures taken to ensure that persons between the ages of 15 and 18 should not be engaged in hazardous work on board ship.

It also requests the Government to supply information on consultations with employers’ and workers’ organizations concerning any other dangerous work to be prohibited for a person under the age of 18 years.

Article 9, paragraph 3.  Under sections 48 and 49 of the Labour Act, an employer who has 15 or more workers in his employment is obliged to keep a register of workers, containing the names and ages of workers, whereas the Convention requires every employer to keep a register of persons whom he employs or who work for him and who are less that 18 years of age. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in August 1999, the draft employment bill had been submitted to Cabinet which decided that a ministerial committee should be set up to consider the implications of the proposed bill, and that the bill is still under consideration. It again hopes that the amendments will be completed so as to fulfil the requirements of Article 9, paragraph 3, of the Convention in the near future.

Part V of the report form.  The Committee takes note of the information on the practical application of the Convention, which indicates that during the period 1 June 1996 to 31 May 2000, 96 cases of child employment involving 112 children were detected. The Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on the application of the Convention in practice.