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

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

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the adoption of the National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Child Labour 2008–15 (the National Plan of Action), one of the objectives of which is to remove children from hazardous types of work and the worst forms of child labour. It also noted the formulation jointly by the Government and ILO–IPEC of a roadmap for the prevention and eradication of child labour, including its worst forms.

The Committee notes the adoption of Executive Decree No. PCM-057-2015 on the integration of the National Committee for the Progressive Elimination of Child Labour into the new Government structure, under the presidency of the Secretariat of State for Labour and Social Security (STSS), with the objective of preparing, monitoring, evaluating and ensuring the implementation of the National Plan of Action, the public policy and the roadmap to make Honduras a country free from child labour and its worst forms. It notes the measures adopted by the Government in the context of the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Elimination of Child Labour 2008–15 and the roadmap. The Government indicates in this regard that seven regional subcommittees, composed of the Government, the social partners and civil society, have been organized, given a legal basis and reinforced in seven towns. It adds that the issue of child labour has been incorporated into the plan of action of the Free Trade Agreement between Central America and the United States (CAFTA), as well as being included in the process for the revision of the legal framework of the Decree issuing regulations governing the National Committee for the Elimination of Child Labour, the technical advisory committee and interaction between institutions. Furthermore, a plan for continued action and transfer in relation to child labour was prepared in 2013 with the support of UNICEF, with a view to ensuring the continuation of the results achieved. The Government also refers to the awareness-raising and social mobilization campaigns conducted at the national level with the involvement of the authorities, civil society and parents with a view to promoting greater awareness of the harmful effects of child labour. Finally, it refers to the adoption of the municipal order prohibiting the worst forms of child labour in the central district. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the specific measures adopted and the results achieved through the implementation of the roadmap for the eradication of child labour, including its worst forms, and the Plan of Action for the Eradication of Child Labour 2016–20.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Children at special risk. Children orphaned or vulnerable due to HIV/AIDS. The Committee observed previously that the incidence of the virus in the country is increasing in a worrying manner and that the number of child orphans and other vulnerable children in Honduras was over 60,000. Noting that the Government’s report does not contain any information on this subject and recalling that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has particularly serious consequences for orphans, who are more exposed to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee is bound to request the Government once again to intensify its efforts to prevent child HIV/AIDS orphans from becoming engaged in the worst forms of child labour and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration, particularly through education. It requests the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken in this respect.

Article 8. International and regional cooperation. Poverty reduction. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the roadmap for the prevention and eradication of child labour includes a component to combat poverty. The Committee also noted the various social programmes implemented by the Government, including Bono 10,000 and Mi primer empleo, and it requested the Government to provide information on the results achieved through these programmes.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the Mi primer empleo programme, according to which it has resulted in various impacts, including the possibility for 975 young persons (of whom 39 are of lenca origin) who have received technical training to find a job within six months or to return to the school system. The Government adds that the Secretariat of Labour and Social Security has developed various alliances to offer training opportunities for young persons, including with the Secretariat of Education, chambers of commerce and the Secretariat of Social Development. Noting that the operational rules of the Bono 10,000 programme have been revised to include a specific objective on the elimination of child labour, the Committee notes the absence of information on the results achieved through Bono 10,000 and the roadmap. The Committee also notes that, according to its concluding observations of 2014 (CERD/C/HND/CO/1-5, paragraph 7), the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination noted that 88.7 per cent of indigenous and Afro-Honduran children are poor, with 10.8 per cent being in relative poverty and 78.4 per cent suffering from extreme poverty. The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the necessary measures to achieve the effective reduction of poverty among children at risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, and particularly indigenous and Afro-Honduran children. It also requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken within the context of the Bono 10,000 programme and the roadmap for the prevention and eradication of child labour, including its worst forms.