Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Costa Rica (Ratification: 1976)

With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's report and the attached texts of legislation. It notes in particular that, as regards the register to be kept by the employer under Article 9(3) of the Convention, the Code of Children and Adolescents (section 98), in addition to the current Labour Code (section 93), obliges the employer to keep a register of workers under 18 years old, including indications of their name and age.

Article 6. The Committee notes that children can enter into apprenticeship only if they are aged more than 15 by virtue of section 79 of the Code of Children and Adolescents. It recalls that, according to the Act on Apprenticeship (No. 4903, of 17 November 1971), the employment of children for beginners or apprentice was allowed from the age of 13 (section 5). The Committee asks the Government to state whether the Act on Apprenticeship has been modified accordingly.

Article 8. The Committee asks the Government to state whether in practice any child younger than 15 years of age participates in artistic performances, including for instance filming of advertisements. If that is the case, please state the measures taken to ensure that individual permissions for such purposes, granted as an exception to the minimum age, are granted under the conditions laid down in this Article.

Point V of the report form. The Committee notes that the Government's report and the attached information concern only legal provisions on child labour. However, according to the information available through IPEC, of which Costa Rica is a participating country, the 1995 Household Survey carried out by the Government showed that 56,261 children under the age of 14 years were economically active, without counting those in the informal sector. The Committee again asks the Government to supply information on the application in practice of the Convention, including any statistical data and extracts from official reports.