Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

The Committee has noted the Government’s first report received on 25  September 2002 and a communication dated 13 March 2002 from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), containing comments on the observance of the Convention. A copy of the ICFTU communication was transmitted to the Government on 18 July 2002 for any comments which it might wish to make on the questions raised therein.

In its comments, the ICFTU alleged that child labour law sets the minimum age for admission to employment or work at 14 years, which would be fairly well observed in the formal sector, principally in large and medium-sized companies. However, the enforcement of this minimum age of 14 years would be less adequate in small companies and in agriculture and, particularly, in the informal sector. The ICFTU referred to some recent reports which would suggest a total of approximately 5 million working children, 2 million of whom are under 12 years old. The majority of working children work for or with their parents and relatives, often in agriculture or informal urban activities such as vending. Some children are occupied as beggars.

In its communication, the ICFTU also alleged that the Government, in cooperation with UNICEF, has been undertaking efforts to address child labour, including in urban informal work and through increased access to education. In 1992, the number of years of free, obligatory school education was increased from six to nine. However, the scale of the problem remains huge. Only six out of ten primary-school children actually complete school. The ICFTU indicated that the national education authority reported that 1.7 million school-aged children are unable to receive an education because their poverty forced them to work. The ICFTU also indicated that in the particular case of indigenous children, access to education is very poor, because education is generally available only in Spanish and many indigenous families would speak only their native languages. The incidence of child labour is relatively higher than for the non-indigenous population.

In its response to the comments made by the ICFTU dated 26 November 2002, the Government has indicated that this year it has presented the first report on the application of the Convention. While noting this indication, the Committee requests the Government to reply to the comments made by the ICFTU.