36 INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION
Czechoslovakia and Switzerland are non-maritime and not
~oncerned with this Convention, Japan, Norway and Spain
have ratified, leaving only France, Germany and Italy of
the principal maritime nations which have not done so.
Italy has authorized ratification and Germany recommended
it. France is waiting on action in regard to a bill amending
French legislation relating to the period of compulsory
oducation. One ratification has been authorized and five
have been recommended.
In this connection it is interesting to note the different
attitude taken by non-maritime nations. Austria, Czecho-
slovakia and Switzerland, because of the general inapplica-
bility of the Convention to their respective countries, have
deemed it inadvisable to adhere; while Luxemburg, although
the maritime conventions do not directly affect it, has rati-
fied them as a sign of solidarity and cooperation.
Application of the Convention by legislation has been
reported by seventeen of the nations which have ratified.
Belgium and Latvia have prepared bills to carry out the
provisions of the Convention, and no report has as yet been
made for Luxemburg. In a few cases legislation partially or
wholly meeting the terms of the Convention was already
-xistent when the Convention was adopted and, where it did
not fully carry out the provisions, was later amended accord-
ingly. Chile, which has not yet ratified, applies the Conven-
tion by legislation. Although Italy has authorized ratifica-
sion of the Convention no steps have been taken to apply it.
Legislation in preparation has been noted in the case of seven
~ountries including Belgium, France and Germany.
Minimum AGE FOR THE ADMISSION OF YOUNG PERSONS TO
EMPLOYMENT AS TRIMMERS OR STOKERS
The Draft Convention Fixing the Minimum Age for the
Admission of Young Persons to Employment as Trimmers or
Stokers, adopted at Geneva in 1921, prescribes that young
persons under the age of eighteen years are not to be em-
ployed or to work on vessels! as trimmers or stokers.
* Definition of “vessel” is the same as that provided in the Convention con-
cerning Unemployment Indemnity in Case of Loss or Foundering of the Ship. See
footnote, p. 81 of this volume.