Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2022, publiée 111ème session CIT (2023)

Convention (n° 182) sur les pires formes de travail des enfants, 1999 - Saint-Kitts-et-Nevis (Ratification: 2000)

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. The Committee previously noted that, according to a UNICEF report entitled “Situation Analysis of Children in Saint Kitts and Nevis” of 2017, the boy child who gets caught in the poverty trap often drops out of school to bring more income into the household or falls into gang activities and the drug trade (page 34). Noting the absence of provisions in the national legislation prohibiting the use, procuring or offering of a child under 18 years for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, the Committee reminded the Government that such activities are considered to be one of the worst forms of child labour and that, under the terms of Article 1 of the Convention, each Member which ratifies the Convention shall take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgency.

The Committee once again notes the Government’s indication in its report that the issue of the prohibition of procuring or offering of children under the age of 18 years for illicit activities was forwarded to the Department of Child Protective Services to include it in relevant legislation, and that the Government would take measures to make the necessary legislative amendments.In light of the fact that the Committee has been raising this issue since 2011, the Committee once againurges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the adoption of specific provisions prohibiting the use, procuring or offering of children under the age of 18 years for illicit activities, in particular the production and trafficking of drugs, as a matter of urgency. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard.

Articles 3(d) and 4(1). Hazardous work. With regard to the adoption of the list of hazardous work, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

The Committee is raising another matter in a request addressed directly to the Government.