Yemens labor laws to be evaluated [Archives:2002/16/Business & Economy]

BY YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Labor standards in Yemen are about to be put under the microscope by the Arab Labor Organization (ALO).
Practices involving child labor, worker health and safety, and women in the workforce are some among the concerns that the ALO will look at, thanks to a new agreement between it and Yemens Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.
The goal is to standardize Yemen’s labor legislation with other Arab countries. This comes within the framework of Yemen’s plan to move towards restructuring the economy as well as adopting the market economy system.
Dealing with unemployment and poorly-skilled labor market have been two of the core challenges of the government since it began implementing its economic reforms in the mid-1990s.
The ALO will carry out its technical projects in cooperation with the Arab Center for Management & Labor. In addition to reviewing Yemen’s general policies, the ALO will help Yemens labor co-ordinate with other Arab ministries of labor.
The ALO will study the obstacles hindering the work of women. It will also send experts to compare labor laws in Yemen with other labor standards in the Arab world.
Another part of the agreement will focus on means of limiting child labor, as statistics reveal that 28.8 percent of working children are below 13 years old.

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