It requires ratifying states to pursue a national policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child labour and to raise progressively the minimum age for admission to employment or work.

The minimum age of 18 years is specified for work which "is likely to jeopardise the health, safety or morals of young persons".

Definitions of the type of work and derogations are only possible after tripartite consultations (if such a system exists in the ratifying country).

An overview of older minimum age conventions of ILO is shown below: Minimum ages defined by states ILO Convention C138 entered into force one year after deposition of the first two ratifications (Cuba and Libya).

Convention C138 enters into force for a ratifying country one year after ratification.