2002 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - Falkland Islands (territory of the United Kingdom)

There is limited information regarding the extent and nature of child labor and the quality and provision of education in non-independent countries and territories eligible for GSP, AGOA and CBTPA benefits. These areas generally are not eligible to become members of the ILO, and ILO Convention 138 and ILO Convention 182 do not apply to any of them.3937

Statistics on the number of children working under the age of 14 are unavailable. According to the Government of the Falkland Islands, in 2002 there were no children below compulsory school age working full time and there have been no recent cases involving the commercial sexual exploitation of children.3962 Information on the nature of child labor in other sectors is unavailable. Education is free and compulsory up to the end of the academic year when a child reaches 16 years of age.3963 In 2002, the government reported that all children between the ages of 5 and 16 in the Falkland Islands were enrolled in the education system.3964 While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children's participation in school.3965

The Employment of Children Ordinance prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14,3966 however children of compulsory schooling age cannot work during school hours, before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on any day, for more than two hours on a school day or on Sundays.3967 The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Ordinance of 1967 prohibits children under the age of 18 from working in industrial establishments.3968 The government is not currently implementing any policies or programs to address child labor, as this is not perceived to be a problem, because of the 100 percent school enrollment rate and the restrictions on employment in the Children's Ordinance.3969 The Government is working to improve basic education by investing in an extension of its Infant and Junior school.3970


3937 ILO official, electronic communication to USDOL official, January 31, 2002. Also Julie Misner, USDOL Office of International Organizations, electronic communication to USDOL official, September 3, 2002. Most of the areas covered in this summary report are considered by the ILO to be non-metropolitan territories and therefore, are ineligible to become members of the ILO. An ILO member can submit a declaration to the ILO requesting that these conventions apply to their non-metropolitan territories. See ILO, Constitution, Chapter 1, Article 1 and Chapter III, Article 35 [cited November 12, 2002]; available from http://www.ilo.org/public/english/about/iloconst.htm.

3962 The Government reported that it has no records of how many children between the ages of 14 and 18 are working on a part-time basis. Alison A.M. Inglis, Falkland Islands Attorney General's Office Crown Counsel, electronic communication to USDOL official, September 11, 2002.

3963 Ibid.

3964 Ibid.

3965 For a more detailed discussion on the relationship between education statistics and work, see the preface to this report.

3966 Inglis, electronic communication, September 11, 2002.

3967 Ibid.

3968 Rosalind Cheek, Falkland Islands Crown Counsel, electronic communication to USDOL official, December 21, 2000.

3969 Ibid.

3970 Inglis, electronic communication, September 11, 2002.

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