PAM launches drive against child labor

In conjunction with the ongoing inspection campaigns by the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) to regulate the market and arrest violators of the residency and labour laws, the campaign titled “Towards a Safe and Balanced Childhood” was launched with the cooperation of the National Human Rights Bureau’s Permanent Committee on the Rights of Children to inspect the extent of implementation of the decisions related to child labor.

This represent a violation of the provisions of Articles 19, 20 and 21 of Law No. 6/2010 regarding work in the private sector and the decisions regulating it, reports Aljarida daily.

Director of the Public Relations and Media Department, and the official spokeswoman for PAM Aseel Al-Mazyed said, “The law prohibits the employment of those under 15 years of age. Those between the ages of 15 and 18 years may not be employed except under conditions, the most important of which is the non-employment of juveniles in industries and professions that are dangerous and harmful to health.

“Moreover, a medical certificate must be obtained for juveniles prior to the start of their work for periods not exceeding six months, along with a work permit issued by PAM in accordance with the established controls.The number of hours allowed for juveniles to work per day is about 6 hours, with the condition that they do not work for more than four consecutive hours, to be followed by a rest period of not less than an hour. It is prohibited to work for additional hours or on days of rest and holidays, or from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.”

Al-Mazyed affirmed that citations will be issued against non-compliant employers.

She stressed the need to abide by the regulations by obtaining a work permit from the authority in accordance with the applicable controls.