21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11300:0::NO:11300:P11300_INSTRUMENT_ID:312283 1/9
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NORMLEX
Information System on International Labour StandardsRatifications of C138 - Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
Date of entry into force: 19 Jun 1976
166 ratifications
Denounced: 0See also
Countries have not ratified
Display the list by:
Country Status of conventionNumber
Country Date Status Note
Afghanistan
Minimum age specified: 14 years 07 Apr 2010 In Force
Albania
Minimum age specified: 16 years 16 Feb 1998 In Force
Algeria
Minimum age specified: 16 years 30 Apr 1984 In Force
Angola
Minimum age specified: 14 years 13 Jun 2001 In Force
Antigua and Barbuda
Minimum age specified: 16 years 17 Mar 1983 In Force
Argentina
Minimum age specified: 16 years 11 Nov 1996 In Force
Armenia
Minimum age specified: 16 years 27 Jan 2006 In Force
Austria
Minimum age specified: 15 years 18 Sep 2000 In Force
Azerbaijan
Minimum age specified: 16 years 19 May 1992 In Force
Bahamas
Minimum age specified: 14 years 31 Oct 2001 In Force
Bahrain
Minimum age specified: 15 years 07 Mar 2012 In Force
Barbados
Minimum age specified: 16 years 04 Jan 2000 In Force
Belarus
Minimum age specified: 16 years 03 May 1979 In Force
21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
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Belgium
Minimum age specified: 15 years 19 Apr 1988 In Force
Belize
Minimum age specified: 14 years 06 Mar 2000 In Force
Benin
Minimum age specified: 14 years 11 Jun 2001 In Force
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
Minimum age specified: 14 years 11 Jun 1997 In Force
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Minimum age specified: 15 years 02 Jun 1993 In Force
Botswana
Minimum age specified: 14 years 05 Jun 1997 In Force
Brazil
Minimum age specified: 16 years 28 Jun 2001 In Force
Brunei Darussalam
Minimum age specified: 16 years 17 Jun 2011 In Force
Bulgaria
Minimum age specified: 16 years 23 Apr 1980 In Force
Burkina Faso
Minimum age specified: 15 years 11 Feb 1999 In Force
Burundi
Minimum age specified: 16 years 19 Jul 2000 In Force
Cabo Verde
Minimum age specified: 15 years 07 Feb 2011 In Force
Cambodia
Minimum age specified: 14 years 23 Aug 1999 In Force
Cameroon
Minimum age specified: 14 years 13 Aug 2001 In Force
Central African Republic
Minimum age specified: 14 years 28 Jun 2000 In Force
Chad
Minimum age specified: 14 years 21 Mar 2005 In Force
Chile
Minimum age specified: 15 years 01 Feb 1999 In Force
China
Minimum age specified: 16 years 28 Apr 1999 In Force
Colombia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 02 Feb 2001 In Force
Comoros
Minimum age specified: 15 years 17 Mar 2004 In Force
Congo
Minimum age specified: 14 years 26 Nov 1999 In Force
Costa Rica
Minimum age specified: 15 years 11 Jun 1976 In Force
Croatia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 08 Oct 1991 In Force
21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
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Cuba
Minimum age specified: 15 years 07 Mar 1975 In Force
Cyprus
Minimum age specified: 15 years 02 Oct 1997 In Force
Czech Republic
Minimum age specified: 15 years 26 Apr 2007 In Force
Côte d'Ivoire
Minimum age specified: 14 years 07 Feb 2003 In Force
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Minimum age specified: 14 years 20 Jun 2001 In Force
Denmark
Minimum age specified: 15 years 13 Nov 1997 In Force
Djibouti
Minimum age specified: 16 years 14 Jun 2005 In Force
Dominica
Minimum age specified: 15 years 27 Sep 1983 In Force
Dominican Republic
Minimum age specified: 14 years. The scope of the Convention is limited to industry or to the economic activities set forth in article 5, paragraph 3. The employment of persons from twelve to fourteen years of age on light work is authorized as provided in article 7, paragraph 4.
15 Jun 1999 In Force
Ecuador
Minimum age specified: 14 years 19 Sep 2000 In Force
Egypt
Minimum age specified: 15 years 09 Jun 1999 In Force
El Salvador
Minimum age specified: 14 years 23 Jan 1996 In Force
Equatorial Guinea
Minimum age specified: 14 years 12 Jun 1985 In Force
Eritrea
Minimum age specified: 14 years 22 Feb 2000 In Force
Estonia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 15 Mar 2007 In Force
Ethiopia
Minimum age specified: 14 years 27 May 1999 In Force
Fiji
Minimum age specified: 15 years 03 Jan 2003 In Force
Finland
Minimum age specified: 15 years 13 Jan 1976 In Force
France
Minimum age specified: 16 years 13 Jul 1990 In Force
Gabon
Minimum age specified: 16 years 25 Oct 2010 In Force
Gambia
Minimum age specified: 14 years 04 Sep 2000 In Force
Georgia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 23 Sep 1996 In Force
21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
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Germany
Minimum age specified: 15 years 08 Apr 1976 In Force
Ghana
Minimum age specified: 15 years 06 Jun 2011 In Force
Greece
Minimum age specified: 15 years 14 Mar 1986 In Force
Grenada
Minimum age specified: 16 years 14 May 2003 In Force
Guatemala
Minimum age specified: 14 years 27 Apr 1990 In Force
Guinea
Minimum age specified: 16 years 06 Jun 2003 In Force
Guinea - Bissau
Minimum age specified: 14 years 05 Mar 2009 In Force
Guyana
Minimum age specified: 15 years 15 Apr 1998 In Force
Haiti
Minimum age specified: 14 years 03 Jun 2009 In Force
Honduras
Minimum age specified: 14 years 09 Jun 1980 In Force
Hungary
Minimum age specified: 16 years 28 May 1998 In Force
Iceland
Minimum age specified: 15 years 06 Dec 1999 In Force
Indonesia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 07 Jun 1999 In Force
Iraq
Minimum age specified: 15 years 13 Feb 1985 In Force
Ireland
Minimum age specified: 16 years 22 Jun 1978 In Force
Israel
Minimum age specified: 15 years 21 Jun 1979 In Force
Italy
Minimum age specified: 15 years 28 Jul 1981 In Force
Jamaica
Minimum age specified: 15 years 13 Oct 2003 In Force
Japan
Minimum age specified: 15 years 05 Jun 2000 In Force
Jordan
Minimum age specified: 16 years 23 Mar 1998 In Force
Kazakhstan
Minimum age specified: 16 years 18 May 2001 In Force
Kenya
Minimum age specified: 16 years 09 Apr 1979 In Force
Kiribati
Minimum age specified: 14 years 17 Jun 2009 In Force
21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
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Korea, Republic of
Minimum age specified: 15 years 28 Jan 1999 In Force
Kuwait
Minimum age specified: 15 years 15 Nov 1999 In Force
Kyrgyzstan
Minimum age specified: 16 years 31 Mar 1992 In Force
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Minimum age specified: 14 years 13 Jun 2005 In Force
Latvia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 02 Jun 2006 In Force
Lebanon
Minimum age specified: 14 years 10 Jun 2003 In Force
Lesotho
Minimum age specified: 15 years 14 Jun 2001 In Force
Libya
Minimum age specified: 15 years 19 Jun 1975 In Force
Lithuania
Minimum age specified: 16 years 22 Jun 1998 In Force
Luxembourg
Minimum age specified: 15 years 24 Mar 1977 In Force
Madagascar
Minimum age specified: 15 years 31 May 2000 In Force
Malawi
Minimum age specified: 14 years 19 Nov 1999 In Force
Malaysia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 09 Sep 1997 In Force
Maldives
Minimum age specified: 16 years 04 Jan 2013 Not in force
Mali
Minimum age specified: 15 years 11 Mar 2002 In Force
Malta
Minimum age specified: 16 years 09 Jun 1988 In Force
Mauritania
Minimum age specified: 14 years 03 Dec 2001 In Force
Mauritius
Minimum age specified: 15 years 30 Jul 1990 In Force
Moldova, Republic of
Minimum age specified: 16 years 21 Sep 1999 In Force
Mongolia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 16 Dec 2002 In Force
Montenegro
Minimum age specified: 15 years 03 Jun 2006 In Force
Morocco
Minimum age specified: 15 years 06 Jan 2000 In Force
Mozambique
Minimum age specified: 15 years 16 Jun 2003 In Force
Namibia
Minimum age specified: 14 years
21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
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Minimum age specified: 14 years Nepal
Minimum age specified: 14 years 30 May 1997 In Force
Netherlands
Minimum age specified: 15 years 14 Sep 1976 In Force
Nicaragua
Minimum age specified: 14 years 02 Nov 1981 In Force
Niger
Minimum age specified: 14 years 04 Dec 1978 In Force
Nigeria
Minimum age specified: 15 years 02 Oct 2002 In Force
Norway
Minimum age specified: 15 years 08 Jul 1980 In Force
Oman
Minimum age specified: 15 years 21 Jul 2005 In Force
Pakistan
Minimum age specified: 14 years 06 Jul 2006 In Force
Panama
Minimum age specified: 14 years. Minimum age specified for maritime employment and maritime fishing, and for young persons that have not completed compulsory schooling: 15 years. Minimum age specified for underground work in mines: 18 years. The scope of the Convention is limited to those branches of economic activity or types of undertakings listed in Article 5 paragraph 3.
31 Oct 2000 In Force
Papua New Guinea
Minimum age specified: 16 years 02 Jun 2000 In Force
Paraguay
Minimum age specified: 14 years 03 Mar 2004 In Force
Peru
Minimum age specified: 14 years 13 Nov 2002 In Force
Philippines
Minimum age specified: 15 years 04 Jun 1998 In Force
Poland
Minimum age specified: 15 years 22 Mar 1978 In Force
Portugal
Minimum age specified: 16 years 20 May 1998 In Force
Qatar
Minimum age specified: 16 years 03 Jan 2006 In Force
Romania
Minimum age specified: 16 years 19 Nov 1975 In Force
Russian Federation
Minimum age specified: 16 years 03 May 1979 In Force
Rwanda
Minimum age specified: 14 years 15 Apr 1981 In Force
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Minimum age specified: 16 years 03 Jun 2005 In Force
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Minimum age specified: 14 years
21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
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Minimum age specified: 14 years Samoa
Minimum age specified: 15 years 29 Oct 2008 In Force
San Marino
Minimum age specified: 16 years 01 Feb 1995 In Force
Sao Tome and Principe
Minimum age specified: 14 years 04 May 2005 In Force
Senegal
Minimum age specified: 15 years. The Government declared in conformity with Article 5, paragraph 2, of the Convention that the provisions of the Convention do not apply to traditional pastoral or rural work without remuneration carried out in a family setting by children of less than 15 years of age and which aims at better integrating them in their social surroundings and the environment.
15 Dec 1999 In Force
Serbia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 24 Nov 2000 In Force
Seychelles
Minimum age specified: 15 years 07 Mar 2000 In Force
Sierra Leone
Minimum age specified: 15 years 10 Jun 2011 In Force
Singapore
Minimum age specified: 15 years 07 Nov 2005 In Force
Slovakia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 29 Sep 1997 In Force
Slovenia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 29 May 1992 In Force
Solomon Islands
Minimum age specified: 14 years 22 Apr 2013 Not in force South Africa
Minimum age specified: 15 years 30 Mar 2000 In Force
South Sudan
Minimum age specified: 14 years 29 Apr 2012 In Force
Spain
Minimum age specified: 16 years 16 May 1977 In Force
Sri Lanka
Minimum age specified: 14 years 11 Feb 2000 In Force
Sudan
Minimum age specified: 14 years 07 Mar 2003 In Force
Swaziland
Minimum age specified: 15 years 23 Oct 2002 In Force
Sweden
Minimum age specified: 15 years 23 Apr 1990 In Force
Switzerland
Minimum age specified: 15 years. Pursuant to Article 3, the minimum age for admission to underground work has been specified to be 19 full years, and for apprentices 20 full years.
17 Aug 1999 In Force
Syrian Arab Republic
Minimum age specified: 15 years 18 Sep 2001 In Force
21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
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Tajikistan
Minimum age specified: 16 years 26 Nov 1993 In Force
Tanzania, United Republic of
Minimum age specified: 14 years 16 Dec 1998 In Force
Thailand
Minimum age specified: 15 years. Pursuant to Article 5, the provisions of the Convention shall be applicable to the following branches of economic activity: mining and quarrying;
manufacturing; construction; electricity; gas and water; sanitary services; transport; storage service and communication; and plantations and other agricultural undertakings mainly producing for commercial purposes, with the exception of family and small-scale holdings producing for local consumption and not regularly employing hired workers.
11 May 2004 In Force
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 17 Nov 1991 In Force
Togo
Minimum age specified: 14 years 16 Mar 1984 In Force
Trinidad and Tobago
Minimum age specified: 16 years 03 Sep 2004 In Force
Tunisia
Minimum age specified: 16 years 19 Oct 1995 In Force
Turkey
Minimum age specified: 15 years 30 Oct 1998 In Force
Turkmenistan
Minimum age specified: 16 years 27 Mar 2012 In Force
Uganda
Minimum age specified: 14 years 25 Mar 2003 In Force
Ukraine
Minimum age specified: 16 years 03 May 1979 In Force
United Arab Emirates
Minimum age specified: 15 years 02 Oct 1998 In Force
United Kingdom
Minimum age specified: 16 years 07 Jun 2000 In Force
Uruguay
Minimum age specified: 15 years 02 Jun 1977 In Force
Uzbekistan
Minimum age specified: 15 years 06 Mar 2009 In Force
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
Minimum age specified: 14 years 15 Jul 1987 In Force
Viet Nam
Minimum age specified: 15 years 24 Jun 2003 In Force
Yemen
Minimum age specified: 14 years 15 Jun 2000 In Force
Zambia
Minimum age specified: 15 years 09 Feb 1976 In Force
Zimbabwe
21/11/13 Ratifications of ILO conventions: Ratifications by Convention
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