2006 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - São Tomé and Príncipe

Bureau of International Labor Affairs, 2006 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - São Tomé and Príncipe, United States Department of Labor, 31 August 2007, https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/usdol/2007/en/62591 [accessed 16 April 2024]
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Selected Statistics and Indicators on Child Labor
Percent of children 5-14 estimated as working in 2000:15.4%3654
Minimum age for admission to work:143655
Age to which education is compulsory:133656
Free public education:Yes3657
Gross primary enrollment rate in 2004:133%3658
Net primary enrollment rate in 2004:98%3659
Percent of children 5-14 attending school in 2000:68.8%3660
As of 2003, percent of primary school entrants likely to reach grade 5:66%3661
Ratified Convention 138:5/4/20053662
Ratified Convention 182:5/4/20053663
ILO-IPEC participating country:No3664

Incidence and Nature of Child Labor

In 2000, approximately 17.2 percent of boys and 13.5 percent of girls 5 to 14 were working in São Tomé and Príncipe.3665 Children work in subsistence agriculture, on plantations, in informal commerce, and in domestic services.3666 Children also work in auto mechanic shops.3667

Child Labor Laws and Enforcement

The minimum age for work in São Tomé and Príncipe is 14 and the law imposes fines on those who employ underage workers.3668 The law prohibits children under the age of 18 from working in unhealthy or dangerous conditions, as well as from working underground.3669 Children under 18 may not work more than 7 hours a day and 35 hours per week.3670 The law prohibits forced or compulsory labor, including by children.3671 Military service is compulsory at 18 years; 17-year-olds may volunteer with parental consent.3672 The law also prohibits trafficking in persons.3673 The government has not prosecuted any cases of child labor law violations.3674

Current Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor

Research has not identified any policies or programs by the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe to address exploitive child labor.

3654 UCW analysis of ILO SIMPOC, UNICEF MICS, and World Bank surveys, Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Rates, March 1, 2007.

3655 Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, Lei nº 6/92 de 11 de Junho, Article 128; available from http://www.doingbusiness.org/Documents/LawLibrary/S%C3%A3o-Tom%C3%A9-an…. See also UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention, Initial reports of States parties due in 1993: Sao Tome and Principe, CRC/C/8/Add.49, March 4, 2003, 15; available from http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/0/d9dc78db076fcd54c1256e2f002df2a4/$FI….

3656 São Tomé and Príncipe Embassy official, Interview with USDOL official, June 7, 2007. See also UNESCO, Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2005: The Quality Imperative, 284; available from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001373/137333e.pdf.

3657 U.S. Department of State, "Sao Tome and Principe," in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2006, Washington, DC, March 6, 2007; available from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78753.htm.

3658 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Gross Enrolment Ratio. Primary. Total, accessed December 20, 2006; available from http://www.stats.uis.unesco.org.

3659 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Net Enrolment Rate. Primary. Total, accessed December 20, 2006; available from http://stats.uis.unesco.org.

3660 UCW analysis of ILO SIMPOC, UNICEF MICS, and World Bank surveys, Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Rates.

3661 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Survival Rate to Grade 5. Total, accessed December 18, 2006; available from http://stats.uis.unesco.org.

3662 ILO, Ratifications by Country, accessed December 18, 2006; available from http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/docs/declworld.htm.

3663 Ibid.

3664 ILO-IPEC, IPEC Action Against Child Labour; Highlights 2006, Geneva, October 2006; available from http://www.ilo.org/iloroot/docstore/ipec/prod/eng/20070228_Implementati….

3665 UCW analysis of ILO SIMPOC, UNICEF MICS, and World Bank surveys, Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Rates.

3666 U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Sao Tome and Principe," Section 6d.

3667 Ambrósio Quaresma, UNICEF quer conhecer a realidade de mão de obra infantil en S. Tomé e Príncipe, [online] [cited January 3, 2007]; available from http://www.unicef.org/saotome/trabalho.htm.

3668 Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, Lei nº 6/92 de 11 de Junho, Articles 128 and 147. See also UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports: Sao Tome and Principe, 15. See also U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Sao Tome and Principe," Section 6d.

3669 Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, Lei nº 6/92 de 11 de Junho, Article 129. See also UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports: Sao Tome and Principe, 15.

3670 Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, Lei nº 6/92 de 11 de Junho, Article 136. U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Sao Tome and Principe."

3671 U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Sao Tome and Principe," Section 6c.

3672 Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, "Sao Tome and Principe," in Child Soldiers Global Report 2004, London, 2004; available from http://www.child-soldiers.org/document_get.php?id=792. See also UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports: Sao Tome and Principe, 16.

3673 U.S. Department of State, "Country Reports – 2006: Sao Tome and Principe," Section 5.

3674 Ibid.

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