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

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Uganda (Ratification: 2003)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2022, then it may proceed with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal at its next session.

Repetition

Article 1 of the Convention. National policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child labour and application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, according to the National Labour Force and Child Activities Survey 2011–12 of July 2013, a total of 2.009 million children aged 5–17 years were in child labour (approximately 16 per cent of all children). Moreover, a total of 507,000 children aged 5–17 years were found in hazardous work (25 per cent of the children in child labour). The Committee also noted that the Government acknowledged the problem of child labour in the country and recognized its dangers. It took due note of the Government’s indication that the National Action Plan for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in Uganda (NAP) was launched in June 2012. This NAP is a strategic framework that will set the stage for the mobilization of policy-makers and for awareness raising at all levels, as well as provide a basis for resource mobilization, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of performance and progress of the interventions aimed at combating child labour. The Committee requested that the Government provide detailed information on the implementation of the NAP and its impact on the elimination of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that the NAP is in the process of being reviewed by the Government with support from the ILO. It also notes, from the ILO–IPEC field office, that a total of 335 children (156 girls and 179 boys) have been withdrawn from child labour and were given skills and livelihood training. Moreover, the child labour agenda has been promoted through the Education Development Partners Forum, Stop Child Labour Partners Forum and other national forums within the education and social development sectors. The Committee finally notes from the 2016 UNICEF Annual Report on Uganda that 7,226 children aged 5–17 years were withdrawn from child labour (page 28). While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee must express its concern at the number of children involved in child labour in the country, including in hazardous work. The Committee once again urges the Government to strengthen its efforts to ensure the effective elimination of child labour, especially in hazardous work. In this regard, it requests that the Government provide detailed information on the implementation of the reviewed NAP, once adopted. It also requests that the Government supply information on the application of the Convention in practice, particularly statistics on the employment of children under 14 years of age.

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

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