2002 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - Saint Lucia
- Author: Bureau of International Labor Affairs
- Document source:
-
Date:
18 April 2003
Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor
The Government of St. Lucia adopted a national plan of action in 1991 for the survival, protection, and development of children, but has not implemented effective programs to fulfill its mandate.3084 From 1995 to 2000, the government undertook a Basic Education Reform Project with support from the World Bank to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the education system, and enhance access to educational opportunities.3085
Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in Saint Lucia are unavailable. Children are found working in rural areas, where they help on family farms. Children also work in urban food stalls and as street traders during non-school and festival days.3086
In 1999, UNICEF estimated that the gross primary school enrollment rate was 121 percent.3087 Attendance rates are not available for Saint Lucia. While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children's participation in school.3088 In 1997-99, approximately 25 percent of the national recurrent budget was allocated to education, with primary education receiving a 41.1 percent share of the education allocation.3089 Only about one-half of primary school children continue on to secondary school.3090
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Law sets 14 years as the minimum age for employment, 18 years in industrial settings, and prohibits night work for children under 16 years.3091 The Education Act of 1999 sets the minimum age for employment at 16 years during the school year.3092 The constitution prohibits slavery, servitude, or forced labor, except for labor required by law, court order, military service, or pubic emergency.3093 The Criminal Code bans the procurement of women and girls for prostitution, as well as the abduction of any female for the purpose of forced sexual relations.3094 There are no laws that address trafficking in persons.3095 Labor laws do not specifically define hazardous work,3096 and there is only one qualified workplace safety and health inspector for the entire country.3097 The penalties for violation of child labor laws do not exceed USD 200 or three months' imprisonment.3098
The Department of Labor of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and Labor enforces all labor laws and regulations through workplace inspections. There were no reports of violations of child labor laws, or of trafficking in persons in 2001.3099
St. Lucia has not ratified ILO Convention 138, but ratified ILO Convention 182 on December 6, 2000.3100
3084 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2001: Saint Lucia, Washington, D.C., March 4, 2002, 3035-36, Section 5 [cited September 4, 2002]; available from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/ wha/8254.htm.
3085 World Bank, Basic Education Reform Project, online, Washington, D.C., [cited September 5, 2002]; available from http://www4.worldbank.org/sprojects/Project.asp?pid=P038698.
3086 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2001: Saint Lucia, 3036-37, Section 6d.
3087 UNICEF, Statistical Data- Saint Lucia, [online] [cited September 4, 2002]; available from http://www.unicef.org/ statis/Country_1Page160.html. Current net primary enrollment statistics are unavailable for Saint Lucia. In 1993, the World Bank Mission estimated that the net primary enrollment rate was 98 percent. UNESCO, Education for All 2000 Assessment: Country Reports – Saint Lucia, prepared by Ministry of Education, pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 52/84, 2000, Section 2.12 [cited September 4, 2002]; available from http://www2.unesco.org/wef/ countryreports/saint_lucia/rapport_2.html.
3088 For a more detailed discussion on the relationship between education statistics and work, see the preface to this report.
3089 UNESCO, EFA 2000 Assessment: Saint Lucia, Section 2.5.
3090 Ibid. See also U.S. Embassy – Bridgetown, unclassified telegram no. 1792, September 2001.
3091 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2001: Saint Lucia, 3036-37, Section 6d. The government recognizes that the age for the end of compulsory schooling does not correspond with the minimum age for employment, and has drafted a revision to the Labor Code to address this by increasing the minimum age for employment to 15 years. ILO, Review of Annual Reports under the Follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, GB.283/3/1, Geneva, March 2002, 25, para. 120.
3092 Government of Saint Lucia, Education Act, Article 27.
3093 Constitution of Saint Lucia, 1978, (February 22, 1979), Section 4 [cited September 4, 2002]; available from http://www.georgetown.edu/pdba/Constitutions/Lucia/Luc78.html.
3094 Government of Saint Lucia, Criminal Code, Articles 103 and 225 [cited September 4, 2002]; available from http://209.190.246.239/protectionproject/statutesPDF/St.Lucia.pdf.
3095 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2001: Saint Lucia, 3036-37, Section 6f.
3096 ILO, Review of Annual Reports, 25, para. 121.
3097 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2001: Saint Lucia, 3036-37, Section 6e.
3098 U.S. Embassy – Bridgetown, unclassified telegram no. 1792.
3099 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2001: Saint Lucia, 3036-37, Sections 6d and 6f.
3100 ILO, Ratifications by Country, in ILOLEX, [database online] [cited September 3, 2002]; available from http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/newratframeE.htm.
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