Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Albania (Ratification: 2001)

Other comments on C182

Observation

Direct Request

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Article 5 of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms. The labour inspectorate. The Committee previously noted that various action plans had been adopted to strengthen the capacity of labour inspectors but also that there was no information on the number of violations detected related to the worst forms of child labour, and in particular, hazardous work.

The Committee notes that the Government’s latest report does not provide any information concerning measures to further strengthen the capacity of labour inspectors to monitor the situation of child labour in the country. Instead, the Government indicates that the labour inspectorate does not have competency to carry out inspections in illegal activities. The Committee further observes that the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), in its concluding observations on the combined second to fourth periodic reports of Albania (CRC/C/ALB/CO/2-3, paragraphs 78 and 79) in 2012, noted with concern the weak capacity of the labour inspectorate to detect the worst forms of child labour and called on the Government to strengthen the labour inspectorate and provide labour inspectors with all the necessary support, including child labour expertise, with a view to enabling them to monitor effectively, at the State and local levels, the implementation of labour law standards. Recalling that the problem of child labour in hazardous working conditions can often stem from a lack of effective monitoring and enforcement of the legislation, the Committee urges the Government to strengthen its labour inspection system without delay. It requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in this respect, as well as to submit any statistical information collected on the number and nature of violations detected related to children engaged in hazardous work.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. In its previous comment, the Committee noted UNICEF reports which identified the poor conditions of national schools, underpaid teachers, outdated teaching materials and high drop-out rates. The Committee also took into account the various initiatives and programmes undertaken by the Government to increase school attendance, including a project entitled “The Second Chance”, which supports teachers who work with students who have dropped out of school.

The Committee notes the Government’s information concerning its recent efforts to increase school attendance and reduce school drop outs, including its adoption of Act No. 69 of 2012 which aims to personalise the curricula designed for students with special needs and its extension of “The Second Chance” programme. The Committee bears in mind the 2012 assessment report carried out by the National Inspectorate of Pre-University Education (IKAP), with UNICEF assistance, on the implementation of “The Second Chance” programme, according to which classes in the programme were attended by 626 students and that positive values were observed for students with economic difficulties. Nevertheless, the Committee also notes that, in its concluding observations, the CRC (CRC/C/ALB/CO/2-3, paragraphs 70 and 71) expressed concern that only 3.2 per cent of the Government’s gross domestic product was devoted to education, including its “The Second Chance” programme, well below the minimum international standard and regional average, and urged the Government to increase its budgetary allocation to the education sector. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to increase its efforts and resources, including within the framework of “The Second Chance” programme, to improve the functioning of the education system and to increase access to free basic education. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved, particularly with regard to ensuring completion of education and reducing school drop-out rates, including up-to-date statistical information on this subject.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. Trafficking. The Committee previously requested the Government to pursue its international cooperation efforts to combat inter-state trafficking of persons under 18. The Government notes with interest the Government’s information concerning the numerous cooperative measures it has taken in this respect, including the extradition of persons charged with human trafficking, the multilateral exchange of rogatory letters and the improvement of cooperation between law and enforcement structures and NGOs that provide services to victims of human trafficking.