2002 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - Western Sahara
- Author: Bureau of International Labor Affairs
- Document source:
-
Date:
18 April 2003
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 working children under the age of 15 in Western Sahara are unavailable, but reports indicate that the few remaining nomadic children work as shepherds.4011 Residents of Western Sahara are subject to Moroccan labor laws that set the minimum age for employment at 15 years, and prohibit children under the age of 18 from working in hazardous occupations or at night.4012 Forced labor is prohibited under Moroccan law.4013 Education is compulsory for 8 years.4014 Information regarding government policies and programs to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in Western Sahara is unavailable.
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.
4011 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2001: Western Sahara, Washington, D.C., March 4, 2002, [cited December 19, 2002]; available from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/nea/8281.htm.
4012 Ibid. See also Lawrence Connell, U.S. Embassy – Casablanca, electronic communication to USDOL official, January 29, 2002.
4013 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2001: Western Sahara.
4014 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, National Education Systems.
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