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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (RATIFICATION: 2003)

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Articles 3(a), 7(1) and 7(2)(a) and (b) of the Convention. Debt bondage and forced and compulsory labour, penalties and effective and time-bound measures. Preventing children from being engaged in the worst forms of child labour and providing direct assistance for their removal and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Sugar cane and Brazil nut harvesting industries. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the prevalence and conditions of exploitation of children working in hazardous conditions in sugar cane and nut harvesting plantations. The Committee takes note of the Government’s indication, in its report, that in the ten years since the implementation of the programme on Eradication of Child Labour in the department of Santa Cruz, led by the Government and in cooperation with UNICEF and private and public institutions, 5,000 children were removed from work in the sugar cane industry. The Government adds that 90 per cent of children who come from sugar cane harvesting families have stopped engaging in daily work in harvesting, while 10 per cent of children, generally adolescents, continue to engage in such activities. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the labour inspectorate undertook 225 inspections of child labour in 2021, and 252 inspections up until July 2022. The Government states that the concrete impact of these inspections, whether regular or unscheduled, can be seen from the continuing reduction of child labour in the sugar cane and nut harvesting plantations. While taking due note of the information provided by the Government, the Committee notes once again with regret the absence of information on the number of violations identified from these inspections or the penalties imposed. The Committee strongly urges the Government to ensure that persons using the labour of children under 18 years of age in the sugar cane and Brazil nut harvesting industries, under conditions of debt bondage or forced labour, are prosecuted and that sufficiently effective and dissuasive sanctions are applied. It requests the Government to provide information on the number and nature of violations detected and the penalties applied. The Committee also strongly encourages the Government to continue to take effective and time-bound measures to: (i) prevent children from becoming victims of debt bondage or forced labour in the sugar cane and Brazil nut harvesting industries, and to remove child victims from these worst forms of child labour and ensure their rehabilitation and social integration; and (ii) provide information on the measures taken to this end and the results achieved.

Articles 3(d) and 7(2)(a) and (b). Hazardous types of work and effective and time-bound measures for prevention, assistance and removal. Children working in mines. The Committee noted previously that over 3,800 children work in the tin, zinc, silver and gold mines in the country, and that the Government also referred to the establishment by the Ministry of Labour of Integrated Mobile Offices (Oficinas Móviles Integrales) in remote areas where the presence of the worst forms of child labour is suspected, including in mining areas. Noting that the Government is silent on this point, the Committee again requests the Government to indicate the effectiveness of the action undertaken by the Integrated Mobile Offices in preventing children from being engaged in hazardous work in mines, their removal from such work and their rehabilitation.

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