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

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

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 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (b). Use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution. The Committee previously requested the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the procuring or offering of boys under 18 years of age for prostitution is prohibited, to impose criminal responsibility on clients who use boys and girls under 18 years of age for prostitution, and to ensure that boys and girls under 18 years of age who are used, procured or offered for prostitution are treated as victims rather than offenders. The Committee noted that the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions had indicated that efforts were being made to amend the Children’s Act of 2000 to fully comply with the Convention on the prohibition of the use, procuring or offering of children for prostitution.

The Committee notes with satisfaction that section 8A of the Children’s (Amendment) Act of 2016 provides that a person shall not engage a child in any work or trade that exposes the child to activities of a sexual nature, whether remunerated or not. It notes that the perpetrator is liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred currency points or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years.

Clause (d). Hazardous types of work. Children working in mines. The Committee observes that, according to the UNICEF Situation analysis of 2015, the Karamoja region has a high incidence of child labour in hazardous mining conditions (page 13). The Committee also observes, from the UNICEF Annual Report of 2016, that 344 girls and 720 boys were removed from the worst forms of child labour, such as mining, as a result of the support of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to the strategic plan for the national child helpline. Moreover, the Committee notes that section 8 of the Children’s (Amendment) Act of 2016 prohibits hazardous work, and that the list of hazardous occupations and activities in which the employment of children is not permitted (first schedule of the Employment of Children Regulations of 2012) includes the prohibition of children working in mining. The Committee notes with concern the situation of children working in mines under particularly hazardous conditions. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the effective application of the Children’s (Amendment) Act of 2016 and of the Employment of Children Regulations of 2012, so as to prevent children under 18 years of age from working in mines, and to provide the necessary and appropriate direct assistance for their removal.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. 1. Orphans and vulnerable children. The Committee previously noted the Government’s information that a range of factors has contributed to the problem of child labour, such as orphanhood arising from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Committee noted that orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in Uganda were recognized in both the Policy on orphans and other vulnerable children and the National Strategic Plan on OVCs. The Committee also noted that the policies and activities of the National Action Plan on Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Uganda 2013–17 (NAP) include orphans and HIV/AIDS affected persons in its target groups. However, noting with concern the large number of children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, the Committee urged the Government to intensify its efforts to ensure that such children are protected from the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes the absence of information on this point in the Government’s report. The Committee however notes that, according to a report by the Uganda AIDS Commission, entitled: “The Uganda HIV and AIDS country progress report: July 2015–June 2016”, approximately 160,000 OVCs received social support services and a mapping of OVC actors was conducted, among other achievements. The Committee also notes that the Second National Development Plan 2015/16–2019/20 outlines two programmes to support OVCs: the SUNRISE–OVC (Strengthening the Ugandan National Response for Implementation of Services for OVCs), and the SCORE (Strengthening Community OVC Response). While taking due note of the strategic plans developed by the Government and the decrease in the number of OVCs, the Committee notes with concern that there are still approximately 660,000 HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda, according to UNAIDS estimates for 2015. Recalling that children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable children are at particular risk of becoming involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to strengthen its efforts to protect these children from the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government once again to provide information on specific measures taken in this respect, particularly in the framework of the Policy on orphans and other vulnerable children, the National Strategic Plan on OVCs, the SUNRISE–OVC and the SCORE, and the results achieved.

2. Child domestic workers. The Committee previously noted that the list of hazardous occupations and activities prohibits the engagement of children under 18 years of age in several activities and hazardous tasks in the sector of domestic work. However, the Committee noted that, according to the National Labour Force and Child Activities Survey 2011–12 of July 2013, approximately 51,063 children, that is 10.07 per cent of the number of children aged 5–17 years engaged in hazardous work in Uganda, are domestic housekeepers, cleaners and helpers. In this regard, the Committee observed that domestic workers form a group targeted by the NAP, and requested the Government to provide information on the impact of the NAP on the protection of child domestic workers.

The Committee notes the absence of information from the Government in this regard. Recalling that children in domestic work are particularly vulnerable to the worst forms of child labour, including hazardous work, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the NAP on the protection of child domestic workers, particularly the number of child domestic workers engaged in hazardous work who have benefited from initiatives taken in this regard.

3. Refugee children. The Committee observes that, according to the UNICEF Uganda situation report of 31 May 2017, there are over 730,000 refugee children in Uganda, among more than 1.2 million refugees. The Committee also observes from the joint Updated regional framework for the protection of South Sudanese and Sudanese refugee children (July 2015–June 2017), developed by UNHCR, UNICEF and NGOs, that South Sudanese and Sudanese refugee children are subjected to child labour in Uganda (page 5). The Committee finally notes that a Uganda Solidarity Summit on Refugees took place in Kampala in June 2017 to showcase the Uganda model of refugee protection and management, to highlight the emergency and long-term needs of the refugees and to mobilize resources. While acknowledging the difficult refugee situation prevailing in the country and the efforts provided by the Government, the Committee strongly urges the Government to take effective and time-bound measures as a matter of urgency to specifically protect refugee children from the worst forms of child labour and to provide the necessary and appropriate direct assistance for their removal and for their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard.

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.