Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Madagascar (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes with concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee notes the observations of the Christian Confederation of Malagasy Trade Unions (SEKRIMA), which were received on 17 September 2013.

Article 1 of the Convention. National policy and application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, according to the last National Survey on Child Labour (ENTE), more than one in four children in Madagascar between 5 and 17 years of age (28 per cent) work, namely 1,870,000 children. Most working children are in agriculture and fishing, where most of them are employed as family helpers. As regards children between 5 and 14 years of age, 22 per cent are working and 70 per cent attend school. The Committee also noted the allegations of the General Confederation of Workers’ Unions of Madagascar (CGSTM) that many underage children from rural areas are sent to large towns by their parents to work in the domestic sector under conditions that are often dangerous. Moreover, these children have not necessarily completed their compulsory schooling. The Committee previously noted that the National Plan of Action against Child Labour in Madagascar (PNA) was in its extension phase in terms of staffing, beneficiaries and coverage (2010–15). The Government indicated that the workplan of the National Council for Combating Child Labour (CNLTE) for 2012–13 had been adopted. The Government also reported on a number of projects, including the AMAV project against child domestic labour and the plan of action against child labour in vanilla plantations in the Sava region, which was implemented under the ILO–IPEC TACKLE project.

The Committee notes the observations of SEKRIMA stating that the practice of child labour persists in Madagascar. SEKRIMA also highlights a very high drop-out rate during the first five years of schooling.

The Committee notes the Government’s indications that the PNA has partly been implemented by mobilization activities under the AMAV project, particularly in the Amoron’i Mania region, with the display of four “Red card against child labour” billboards, the distribution of flyers on combating child domestic labour and awareness-raising activities concerning revision of the dina (local convention) in order to incorporate the issue of child domestic labour. Moreover, a total of 125 children between 12 and 16 years of age were withdrawn from domestic labour and trained for the competition to obtain a diploma. The Government also indicates that each year it celebrates the World Day Against Child Labour as a means of mass awareness raising while continuing to display posters in working-class neighbourhoods and hold discussions with parents, local authorities and social partners. It also mentions that there are currently 12 Regional Councils for Combating Child Labour (CRLTEs). The Committee further notes that the capacities of various entities for combating child labour have been reinforced, namely 50 entities involved in vanilla production in the Sava region and 12 in the Antalaha region, 91 members of trade union organizations, 43 journalists and three technicians of the National Institute of Statistics. Lastly, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that in 2014 the CNLTE revamped Decree No. 2007-263 of 27 February 2007 concerning child labour and Decree No. 2005-523 of 9 August 2005 establishing the CNLTE, its tasks and structure. Further to a study on hazardous work, 19 types of hazardous work were officially recognized in 2013 and incorporated into the Decree under adoption. While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee observes that the 2012 National Survey of Employment and the Informal Sector (ENEMPSI 2012) reveals that 27.8 per cent of children are working, namely 2,030,000 children. The survey also shows that 28.9 per cent of children between 5 and 9 years of age (83,000) and 50.5 per cent of children between 10 and 14 years of age (465,000) do not attend school. While welcoming the Government’s efforts to improve the situation, the Committee urges the Government to intensify its efforts to ensure the progressive elimination of child labour. It requests it to provide information on the results achieved by the implementation of the PNA and also on the activities of the CNLTE and CRLTEs. It requests the Government to provide a copy of the revised version of Decree No. 2007-263, once it has been adopted.

Article 2(3). Age of completion of compulsory schooling. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, according to UNESCO, the age of completion of compulsory schooling is lower than the minimum age for admission to employment or work. The Committee observed that the official age of access to primary education is 6 years and the duration of compulsory schooling is five years, meaning that the age of completion of compulsory schooling is 11 years. The Committee noted the CGSTM’s allegation that no changes had yet been made by the Government to resolve the problem of the difference between the age of completion of compulsory schooling (11 years) and the minimum age for admission to employment or work (15 years). The Committee noted the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Education was pursuing its efforts so as to be able to take measures to resolve the gap between the minimum age for admission to employment or work and the age of completion of compulsory schooling.

The Committee notes the Government’s indications that the Ministry of Education organized a “national education convention” in 2014 consisting of in-depth national consultations on the implementation of inclusive, accessible and high-quality education for all. However, the Committee notes with regret that the question of the age of completion of compulsory schooling has still not been settled and has remained under discussion for many years. It reminds the Government that compulsory schooling is one of the most effective means of combating child labour, and underlines the need to link the age for admission to employment or work to the age of completion of compulsory schooling, as established in Paragraph 4 of the Minimum Age Recommendation, 1973 (No. 146). The Committee observes once again that, as stated in the 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, if compulsory schooling comes to an end before children are legally entitled to work, there may arise a vacuum which regrettably opens the door for the economic exploitation of children (paragraph 371). Observing that the Government has been discussing this matter for ten years, the Committee urges the Government to take measures, as a matter of urgency, to raise the age of completion of compulsory schooling so that it coincides with the age of admission to employment or work in Madagascar. It requests the Government to provide information on the progress achieved in this respect.

Article 6. Vocational training and apprenticeships. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Employment, Technical Education and Vocational Training has prepared a bill on the national employment and vocational training policy (PNEFP) in collaboration with the ILO and in consultation with the social partners. The Government indicates that the bill is awaiting approval before being submitted to Parliament for adoption. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to speed up the adoption of the bill concerning apprenticeships and vocational training. It requests the Government to provide a copy of this legislative text once it has been adopted.

The Committee expects that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.