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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Cameroon (RATIFICATION: 2002)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s reply to the communication of 17 October 2008 from the General Confederation of Labour – Liberty of Cameroon (CGTL) and of the Government’s report.

Article 4(3). Periodic review and revision of the list of types of hazardous work. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s reply to the CGTL’s statement that Order No. 17 of 27 May 1969 on child labour, which provides for a list of jobs prohibited for children under 18 years of age, was adopted at a time when there was only one trade union and before the Convention was ratified, and is therefore not deficient. The Committee notes, however, that Order No. 17 was issued more than 30 years ago. It therefore reminds the Government that according to Article 4(3) of the Convention, the list of types of work must be periodically examined and revised as necessary in consultation with the organizations of employers and workers concerned. It notes the information sent by the Government that a revision of Order No. 17 in the wake of the Labour Code reform is envisaged. The Committee encourages the Government to take steps to revise Order No. 17 of 27 May 1969 in the context of the reform of the Labour Code. It reminds the Government in this connection that when the list of types of dangerous work is examined or revised, the organizations of employers and workers concerned must be consulted. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken and the consultations held in this regard.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. Labour inspection and MINAS regional monitoring brigades. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Labour Code applies only in the context of an employment relationship and does not protect children under 18 years of age who perform dangerous work outside an employment contract. It also noted that the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) has set up provincial monitoring brigades to combat the performance of dangerous work by children, including those who perform work outside a contractual labour relationship, and asked the Government to provide information on the operation of these brigades. The Committee also noted the CGTL’s observation that the brigades cooperate neither with the labour inspectors nor with workers’ organizations.

The Committee notes the Government’s reply to the CGTL’s comments that the labour inspectorate and the monitoring brigades cover different forms of child labour, and that there is nothing to prevent them from cooperating with each other. The two institutions will accordingly ascertain jointly the best way of implementing this idea. The Committee also notes the information in the Government’s report on the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), that no labour inspection report mentions the use of children in enterprises. The Committee observes, however, that according to a report entitled “Internationally Recognised Core Labour Standards in Gabon and Cameroon” submitted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on 2 October 2007 to the General Council of the World Trade Organization, the Government does not allocate sufficient resources to support an effective inspection programme. By way of an example, the report indicates that in 2005, the Government employed 58 general labour inspectors to investigate child labour cases. Similarly, the report on the worst forms of child labour states that the resources allocated to the inspection services are inadequate to conduct effective investigations. Consequently, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary steps to build the capacity of the labour inspectorate, particularly in the informal sector, and requests it to send information on measures taken to this end. It also asks the Government to send information in its next report on cooperation between the labour inspectorate and the provincial brigades. It further requests the Government to provide information on the extent and nature of offences reported involving children who work outside a contractual employment relationship in the context of work falling in the category of worst forms of child labour.

Article 8. International cooperation. 1. Regional cooperation in the sale and trafficking of children. In its previous comments the Committee noted that, according to a synthesis report of March 2006 on the LUTRENA project, the Governments of Nigeria and Cameroon were discussing the possibility of concluding a bilateral cooperation agreement.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the agreement has not yet been finalized. In view of the extent of the trafficking across Cameroon’s borders, the Committee encourages the Government to take the necessary steps to finalize the bilateral cooperation agreement with Nigeria. It asks the Government to provide information on progress made in this respect.

2. Poverty reduction. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Government had added education for children, especially girls, to its poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP). It also noted that a Decent Work Country Programme for Cameroon is being prepared.

The Committee notes that according to the information in the Government’s report, Cameroon plans to reduce poverty and hence reduce significantly the worst forms of child labour under its new growth and employment strategy paper (GESP), which replaces the PRSP. Observing once again that poverty reduction programmes contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, which is essential to the abolition of the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to provide information on the specific measures it plans to take in the course of implementing the GESP, in order to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, particularly those targeting the effective reduction of poverty among child victims of sale and trafficking and children who carry on hazardous work in cocoa plantations.