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Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Burundi (RATIFICATION: 2000)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Scope of application. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the indication by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) that child labour constitutes a serious problem in Burundi, particularly in agriculture and informal activities in urban areas. It also noted the statement by the Government that the socio-political crisis experienced by the country had aggravated the situation of children, some of whom were obliged to perform work “illegally” to support their families, very frequently in the informal economy and in agriculture. The Committee noted that section 3 of the Labour Code, in conjunction with section 14, prohibits work by young persons under 16 years of age in public and private enterprises, including farms, where such work is carried out on behalf of and under the supervision of an employer.

In its report, the Government confirmed that the country’s regulations did not apply to the informal sector, which consequently escapes any control. Nevertheless, the question of extending the application of the labour legislation to this sector was to be discussed in a tripartite context on the occasion of the revision of the Labour Code and its implementing texts. The Committee reminded the Government that the Convention applies to all sectors of economic activity and covers all forms of employment and work, whether or not there is a contractual employment relationship, including own-account work. It once again expresses the firm hope that the Government will take the necessary measures to extend the scope of application of the Convention to work performed outside an employment relationship, particularly in the informal economy and in agriculture. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in this respect.

Article 2, paragraph 3. Age of completion of compulsory schooling. The Committee previously noted the ITUC’s indications that the war had weakened the education system due to the destruction of many schools and the death or abduction of a large number of teachers. According to the ITUC, the school attendance rate is lower and the illiteracy rate higher for girls. The Committee further noted that, according to a report of the International Bureau of Education (UNESCO) of 2004 relating to data on education, Legislative Decree No. 1/025 of 13 July 1989 reorganizing education in Burundi does not provide for free and compulsory primary education. Entry into primary education is around the age of 7 or 8 years and lasts six years. Children therefore complete primary education around the age of 13 or 14 years and then have to pass a competition to enter secondary education. The Committee further noted that in 1996 the Government had prepared a Global Plan of Action for Education designed to improve the education system, among other measures, by reducing inequalities and disparities in access to education and achieving a gross school attendance rate of 100 per cent by the year 2010.

The Committee duly noted the information provided by the Government in its report with regard to the various measures adopted in the field of education. It noted that, under article 53(2) of the Constitution of 2005, the State is under the obligation to organize public education and promote access to such education. It further noted that basic education is free of charge and that the number of children attending school tripled during the 2006 school year. In 2007, primary schools would be constructed and other mobile and temporary schools would be established. Furthermore, coordination units for girls’ education had been established and over 1,000 teachers recruited. The Committee once again encourages the Government to pursue its efforts in the field of education and to provide information on the impact of the above measures in terms of increasing the school attendance rate and reducing the drop-out rate, with special attention to the situation of girls. It also requests the Government to indicate the age of completion of compulsory schooling and the provisions of the national legislation which determine this age.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the future.