Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Kenya (Ratification: 2001)

Articles 3(d), 4(1) and 7(2)(a) and (b) of the Convention. Hazardous work and effective and time-bound measures to prevent the engagement of children in, and to remove them from, the worst forms of child labour. Child domestic work. The Committee notes that section 12(3), read in conjunction with section 24(e) of the Employment (General) Rules of 2014, prohibits the employment of children under the age of 18 years in various types of hazardous work listed under fourth schedule of the Rules, including domestic work. The Committee also notes that the ILO–IPEC, through the Global Action Programme (GAP 11) has supported several activities, including the carrying out of a situational analysis for child domestic workers in Kenya. According to the GAP report of 2014, the situation analysis revealed that, children over 16 years of age, some of whom started working at 12–13 years, are involved in domestic work in Kenya. Many are underpaid and work for long hours averaging 15 hours per day and are subject to physical and sexual abuse. It further notes that according to the report entitled Road Map to Protecting Child Domestic Workers in Kenya: Strengthening the Institutional and Legislative Response, April 2014, there are an estimated 350,000 child domestic workers in Kenya, the majority of whom are girls between 16 and 18 years of age. The Committee notes with concern the large number of children under the age of 18 years who are involved in domestic work and are subject to hazardous working conditions. The Committee accordingly urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that its new regulation on hazardous work is effectively applied so as to prevent domestic workers under 18 years of age from engaging in hazardous work. It also requests the Government to take effective and time-bound measures to provide the necessary and appropriate direct assistance to remove children engaged in domestic work from hazardous working conditions and ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. The Committee finally requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and on the results achieved, in terms of the number of child domestic workers removed from such situation and rehabilitated.

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