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

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Jordan (Ratification: 2000)

Articles 5 and 7(1) of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms and penalties. The Committee previously requested information on the number and nature of violations detected in the course of labour inspections related to persons under 18 engaged in the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that between July 2010 and December 2011, the labour inspectorate undertook 1,583 inspection visits, detected 128 infringements and issued 44 warnings. The Government also indicates that it is currently taking measures to establish a computerized labour inspection system, in collaboration with the ILO. Moreover, the Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report, submitted under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), that an inspection campaign related specifically to child labour was carried out involving an increased number of inspections in undertakings in which there are working children and through field visits by labour inspectors. The Committee further notes the information from ILO–IPEC of April 2012 concerning the project “Moving towards a child labour free Jordan” that measures are being taken to strengthen the Child Labour Unit within the Ministry of Labour, including initiatives to enhance the capacity of labour inspectors who are child labour focal points. The Committee notes that, in the context of this project, materials will be prepared concerning the revised list of types of hazardous work, for awareness raising among labour inspectors and the social partners, as well as specific training for labour inspectors on the contents of this revised list. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the practical application of penalties related to the worst forms of child labour, including the number and nature of violations detected, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions applied.

Article 6. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. The Committee previously noted the adoption of the Jordanian National Plan for Children 2004–13, and it requested information on measures taken within this framework related to the eradication of the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, through the National Plan for Children 2004–13, collaboration has been undertaken with bodies working on child labour with regard to the implementation of several projects on the subject. The Committee further notes the Government’s statement that the National Framework to Combat Child Labour was launched in 2011. Moreover, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that it is collaborating with ILO–IPEC in implementing the project “Moving towards a child labour free Jordan”, which will support the implementation of the National Framework and other capacity building. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken, within the National Framework to Combat Child Labour, and in collaboration with ILO–IPEC, to combat the worst forms of child labour, and on the results achieved.

Article 7(2). Clause (a). Effective and time-bound measures. Prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the information in the Government’s report that it has taken several measures to provide for educational alternatives for students who have dropped out of school, through both formal and non-formal education. The Government indicates that non-formal educational programmes are being operated within the framework of the Combating exploitative child labour through education project. Through this project, there are 1,628 educational instructors in schools who monitor identified students. Moreover, a follow-up mechanism had been developed to help students who drop out return to schools, including by getting a written commitment from their parents that the child will return to school. The Government indicates in its report submitted under Convention No. 138 that within the framework of this project, 620 children were enrolled in school. The Government further indicates that it has developed a database of students enrolled in schools, which is used in following up on drop-out cases.

The Committee notes the information in the 2011 UNESCO Global Monitoring Report – Education for All that the net enrolment rate for primary education is 89 per cent. However, the Committee also notes the information in this report that the number of out-of-school children of primary school age has risen from 39,000 children in 1999 to 53,000 children in 2008. Considering that education contributes to preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to facilitate access to education and the return to school for children who have dropped out, including through informal education. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the 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). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. 1. Street children. The Committee previously noted that 13.4 per cent of the children interviewed for the 2006 ILO–IPEC rapid assessment study on the worst forms of child labour in Jordan were street vendors, most of whom are boys. These children faced various risks, including car accidents, inhalation of exhaust fumes, fatigue and verbal and physical abuse from adults and street gangs.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Social Development is implementing several programmes to address child begging, including an anti-begging campaign and the offering of shelter services to children, as well as measures to follow-up on the education of these children by the Ministry of Education. The Government indicates that the Ministry of Social Development, through its field directorates, has a system through which child beggars are detected and handed over to the relevant bodies. When such detected children are returned to their parents, their parents have to pledge in writing that their children will not return to the street. Moreover, the Ministry of Social Development supports such young persons in completing their studies or pursuing non-formal education, as well as facilitating their transfer to vocational training centres. Recalling that street children are particularly vulnerable to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure that these children are protected from these worst forms. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of such measures, including the number of street children who have benefited from such initiatives.

2. Children from poor families. The Committee previously noted that the ILO–IPEC rapid assessment study on the worst forms of child labour indicated that most working children come from households with an average monthly income of 100 dinars or less. It also noted the indication in the 2009 study entitled “Working Children in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan” that children from poor families are more likely to be working, more likely to be engaged in prohibited child labour, and more likely to drop out of school, and that the prevalence of child labour is the highest among the poorest households. However, the Committee noted that the Government had adopted strategies aimed at giving priority to children in development programmes and fighting against poverty, including the referral of children to the National Assistance Fund.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, for parents to receive a national assistance allowance, they must bring a document from a school proving that their child is a student. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication in its report submitted under Convention No. 138 that, through the Social Support Centre (attached to the Ministry of Labour) 104 children were provided with support which prevented them from joining the labour market. The Government also indicates that, through the National Framework to Combat Child Labour, a mechanism will be established to coordinate among different service providers to facilitate access to services for working children and their families. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the specific measures taken to prevent children from poor families from engaging in the worst forms of child labour, in its next report.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee previously noted that the CRC expressed its regret regarding the lack of data on the extent and magnitude of the trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children in Jordan. The Committee also noted that systematic procedures to proactively identify victims of trafficking were not used in the country, and therefore requested the Government to indicate if measures were taken to identify potential victims of trafficking among foreign working children and, if so, whether appropriate services were offered to potential child victims identified.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that providing assistance to victims of human trafficking is one item being implemented under an initiative to build capacity and raise awareness, and that this includes providing assistance to children under 18 years of age. The Committee also notes that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in its concluding observations of 23 March 2012, expressed its concern at the continuing prevalence of trafficking in women and girls in the country, as well as the low reporting rate and the lack of data on the magnitude of human trafficking (CEDAW/C/JOR/CO/5, paragraph 29). The Committee requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to combat child trafficking in the country, and to provide information on measures taken in this regard in its next report. The Committee also requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that sufficient data on the prevalence of the worst forms of child labour, including the trafficking of persons under 18 years of age, is made available. To the extent possible, such information should be disaggregated by sex and by age.