Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Ratification: 2001)

Articles 3(d) and 4(1). Minimum age for admission to, and determination of, hazardous work. The Committee previously noted that the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act (EWYPC Act), did not contain a general prohibition on the employment of children below 18 years of age in hazardous work, other than the prohibition on night work in any industrial undertaking (section 3(2)) nor a determination of hazardous types of work prohibited to children under 18 years of age. It also noted the Government’s indication that consultations with stakeholders to address the issues related to hazardous work by children would be commenced shortly and a draft report would be prepared by the end of 2013.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that there has been no new development on this matter. It notes from the Government’s report of 2021 under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No.138) that the proposed consultations with the relevant stakeholders to address the issues related to hazardous work by children did not materialize due to budgetary constraints and lack of sufficient staff in the Department of Labour. The Government further states that these consultations are still on the agenda and further developments will be communicated in due course. Noting that the Government has been referring to the consultations with the stakeholders since 2013, the Committee once again expresses the firm hope that the consultations with the stakeholders including the social partners will be held in the near future and legislation relating to the prohibition on hazardous work by children under 18 years of age as well as a regulation determining the types of hazardous work prohibited to children under the age of 18 years will be adopted soon. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments made in this regard.

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