Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Jamaica (Ratification: 2003)

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted that as of 2009, Jamaica was participating in the ILO–IPEC “Tackling Child Labour through Education” project (TACKLE project), which aimed to contribute to poverty reduction by providing equitable access to basic education and skills development to the most disadvantaged sections of society.

The Committee notes with interest the measures taken by the Government with regard to increasing access to basic education. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that in 2011, it enacted the Charter of Rights, which provides that every child who is a citizen of Jamaica shall have access to education by way of publicly funded tuition in public educational institutions at the pre-primary and primary levels. The Government also indicates that it is implementing the Expanding Educational Horizon Project, which aims to improve literacy and numeracy skills among children of primary school age in 71 primary schools, as well as out-of-school children through informal interventions such as remedial education. The Committee further notes the information provided in the Government’s report submitted under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), that through the TACKLE Project several actions were implemented, such as the review of national education policy to include child labour issues. Additionally, though the TACKLE project, an action programme was implemented aimed at preventing children from engaging in child labour through formal and informal educational activities, which reached 670 children in three towns and included the provision of peer counselling, transportation, uniforms and other facilities to support their sustained retention and improved performance in school.

The Committee notes the information in the 2011 UNESCO Education For All Global Monitoring Report that the net enrolment rate for primary education has fallen from 89 per cent to 80 per cent between 1999 and 2008, and that the number of out-of-school children of primary school age has risen from 34,000 to 66,000 children. Therefore, considering that education contributes to preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to facilitate access to education. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the concrete measures taken in this regard, and to provide statistical information on the results obtained, particularly with respect to increasing school enrolment rates and reducing the overall number of out-of-school children.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. 1. Street children. The Committee previously noted that the Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its concluding observations of 2003 (CRC/C/15/Add.210, paragraph 51), expressed its concern about the situation of street children and the lack of specific mechanisms and measures to address their situation. The Committee also noted the results of a 2002 study commissioned by the Child Development Agency (CDA), which revealed that there were approximately 6,500 street children, the majority of whom were males aged 6–17 years who were particularly vulnerable to being engaged in trafficking and illicit activities.

The Committee once again notes the Government’s statement that a national survey on street and working children is needed to assist in the development of policies on this subject, and that the CDA is in the process of seeking funds to undertake such a study. It also notes the Government’s indication that support continues to be provided to children who live or work on the streets through the Youth Development Programme (which assists youth to make the transition to adulthood and the world of work) and the Youth Empowerment Strategy (which provides financial assistance to youth), as well as by the Young Men’s Christian Association which provides remedial education and pre-vocational training to street children. The Committee further notes the information in the report of the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), submitted with the Government’s report, concerning the number of reports received by the OCR concerning children living on the street. The OCR received 14 such reports in 2008, 23 such reports in 2009, two reports in 2010 and two reports in the first seven months of 2011. Recalling that street children are particularly vulnerable to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee strongly encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to protect street children from these worst forms, and to take measures to provide for their rehabilitation and reintegration. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the effective and time-bound measures taken in this regard, and on the number of street children who have benefited from such initiatives. Lastly, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to undertake a national survey on street children, and to provide this information when it becomes available.

2. Child orphans of HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable children (OVCs). The Committee previously noted the information in a 2009 UNICEF document entitled “Orphans and Vulnerable Children” that HIV/AIDS is one of the contributing factors to the growing number of vulnerable or at-risk children in Jamaica. A 2002 Rapid Assessment Study indicated that there were approximately 5,125 children in Jamaica who had lost a parent to HIV/AIDS, and that approximately 10,000–20,000 children were made vulnerable by the disease. The Committee further noted the information in the Government’s 2010 Country Progress Report to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS that a situational analysis of OVCs in Jamaica (conducted in 2008) found that the majority of parents and caregivers of OVCs were experiencing high levels of poverty. At the time of the analysis, 78.2 per cent of the sample perceived little or no help was forthcoming from institutions.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its Country Progress Report of 31 March 2012 to the UNGASS on HIV/AIDS that, through a partnership with an NGO, measures have been taken to improve the lives of children infected with, or affected by HIV, through the provision of grants to affected households with children. However, the Government also states in this report that policies and strategies to address the additional needs of OVCs require revision, as the older strategic plans have expired and new priorities and interventions are necessary to address the prevailing needs of OVCs. Recalling that OVCs are at an increased risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to take effective and time-bound measures to ensure that children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable children are protected from these worst forms. It requests the Government to provide information on the particular measures taken in this regard in its next report.