Country profile ARG
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5-17 | 2.1 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicator Database |
| 2017 | 5-17 | 1.5 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicator Database |
| 2017 | 5-17 | 1.8 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicator Database |
| 2017 | 5-17 | 2.4 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicator Database |
| 2017 | 5-17 | 1.6 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG indicator Database |
| 2017 | 5-17 | 2 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicator Database |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 1989-10-11 | C182 | Law No. 23.737: Possession and Trafficking of Drugs Law - Section 11 | [{"link_name":"Law No. 23.737","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-23737-138/actualizacion"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 11 of Law No.23.737, increases penalties for drug-related offenses when they are committed in the presence of, or involve individuals under 18 years. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2012-12-19 ; 2003 ; 1984 | C182 | Law No. 26.842: Prevention and Punishment of Human Trafficking and Assistance to its Victims -Articles 1, 21 and 23 ; Law No. 25.763 approving the Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, supplementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ; Penal Code - Article 128 | [{"link_name":"-Law No. 26.842","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-26842-206554/texto"},{"link_name":"-Law No. 25.763","source_link":"https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/85000-89999/87860/norma.htm"},{"link_name":"-Penal Code","source_link":"https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/15000-19999/16546/texact.htm"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Law No. 26.842 Articles 1, 21 and 23 prohibit the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and/or for production of pornography. These prohibitions are further reinforced in Law 25.763 and Article 128 of the Penal Code. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 1967-11-13 | C182 | Law 24.429/1994 on Voluntary Military Service - Articles 1 and 8 | [{"link_name":"Law 24.429/1994","source_link":"http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/0-4999/802/norma.htm"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Article 1 of Law 24,429 establishes Voluntary Military Service, defining it as the service performed by Argentinian men and women by their own decision. Furthermore, Article 8, subsection (c), sets as a condition for entering Voluntary Military Service that applicants must be between 18 and 24 years old. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2012-12-19 ; 1921 ; 2012 | C182 | Law No. 26.842: Prevention and Punishment of Human Trafficking and Assistance to its Victims; Penal Code - Section 22 ; Law 26.847/2012 amending the National Criminal Code - Article 148 bis | [{"link_name":"-Law No. 26.842","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-26842-206554/texto"},{"link_name":"-Penal Code","source_link":"https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/15000-19999/16546/texact.htm"},{"link_name":"-Law 26.847/2012","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-26847-210491"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Section 22 of the Penal code prohibits the crime of trafficking in persons and provides an aggravated penalty when the victim is under 18. Furthermore, it is worth noting that, Article 148 bis of the Law 26.847/2012 establishes as a crime the economic exploitation of a child’s labour. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2016-10-20 | C138 & C182 | Decree No. 11.17/2016 Determines the types of work that constitute hazardous work for minors - Section 1 | [{"link_name":"Decree No. 11.17/2016","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/decreto-1117-2016-266668"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Section 1 of Decree No.11.17/2016, adopts the list of hazardous types of work prohibited for persons under 18 years. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2016-10-20 | C138 & C182 | Decree No. 11.17/2016 Determines the types of work that constitute hazardous work for minors -Section 1 | [{"link_name":"Decree No. 11.17/2016","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/decreto-1117-2016-266668"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Section 1 of Decree No.117/2016, prohibits hazardous working conditions for persons under 18 years of age. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2008-06-24 | C138 | Law No. 26.390/2008 on the prohibition of child labour and the protection of adolescent labour - Section 6 | [{"link_name":"Law No. 26.390/2008","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-26390-141792/texto"}] | 16 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | According to Section 6 of Law No. 26.390/2008, the Apprenticeship contract is applicable to workers from the age of 16 to 18 and it shall be governed by the respective provisions in force, or to be issued for that purpose. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2006-12-16 | C138 | National Education Law | [{"link_name":"National Education Law","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/sites/default/files/ley-de-educ-nac-58ac89392ea4c.pdf"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | The age of completion of compulsory schooling is set at 14 years which is below the minimum age for admission to work set at 16 years. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"-Law No. 26.390/2008","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-26390-141792/texto"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | The Argentinian legal framework does not determine the types and conditions of light work allowed. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2008 | C138 | Law No. 26.390/2008 on the prohibition of child labour and the protection of adolescent labour | [{"link_name":"-Law No. 26.390/2008","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-26390-141792/texto"}] | 16 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | The minimum age for admission to light work is set at 16 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2008-06-24 ; 2011 ; 2013 | C138 | Law No. 26.390/2008 on the prohibition of child labour and the protection of adolescent labour - Article 2; Law 26.727/2011, which establishes the Agrarian Labour Regime - Article 54; and Law 26.844/ 2013, which establishes the Special Labour Contract Regime for Domestic Workers - Article 9 | [{"link_name":"-Law No. 26.390/2008","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-26390-141792/texto"},{"link_name":"-Law 26.727/2011","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-26727-192152"},{"link_name":"-Law 26.844/ 2013","source_link":"https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/210000-214999/210489/norma.htm"}] | 16 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | All three laws set 16 as the minimum age for admission to employment throughout the national territory. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 05-FEB-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 11-NOV-1996 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This programme consists of a line of ‘Training for Territorial Promoters of Child Labour Free Children’ with the aim of promoting a permanent training system for the prevention and eradication of child labour and unprotected adolescent labour. A total of 3 cohorts were developed during the years 2021 to 2023. | [{"link_name":"Federal Strengthening Programme for the Eradication of Child Labour","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/sites/default/files/mteyss-eti-federal-publicacion-2022.pdf"}] | 2021-2023 | Federal Strengthening Programme for the Eradication of Child Labour | Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security |
| Through the voluntary adhesion of companies and business chambers, actions are coordinated and developed to contribute to the prevention and eradication of child labour in the private sector, with the collaboration and technical assistance of CONAETI. | [{"link_name":"Business against Child Labour Network - Red Empresas contra el Trabajo Infantil","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/trabajo/infantil/red-de-empresas-contra-el-trabajo-infantil"}] | Since 2007 | Business against Child Labour Network - Red Empresas contra el Trabajo Infantil | CONAETI (National Commission for the Eradication of Child Labour); Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security |
| Aimed at eradicating child labour and protecting adolescent labour, the Good Harvest Programme promotes the creation and/or strengthening of care and support centres for the children of rural workers (Good Harvest Centres). Projects to create or strengthen a Good Harvest Centre can be submitted by provincial and municipal public bodies, entities representing workers and employers, and other public or private non-profit institutions; and thus finance complementary infrastructure, equipment, transport, materials and supplies, among others. | [{"link_name":"Good Harvest Program (Buena Cosecha)","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/trabajo/buenacosecha"}] | Since 2021 | Good Harvest Program (Buena Cosecha) | Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security |
| Argentina is a Pathfinder Country of the Alliance 8.7, a global partnership committed to eradicating forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour. As part of this initiative, Argentina initiated the development of a roadmap 2023-2025 towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7. This roadmap outlines the strategic objectives and actions necessary to make significant progress in these areas. The main objectives of Argentina's roadmap aroud child labour are: Strengthening Federalization for Policy Development Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor in Value and Supply Chains Information Systems for Decision-Making Deepening of actions for the eradication of child labour and labour exploitation of children and adolescents in critical sectors of economic activity Strengthening of International Cooperation Promotion of Actions within the Framework of Alliance 8.7. | [{"link_name":"SDG 8.7 Roadmap","source_link":"https://www.alliance87.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/2022%2012%2013_HOJA%20DE%20RUTA%20PARA%20PA%C3%8DS%20PIONERO%202023-2025_V.INGL%C3%89S.PDF"}] | 2023-2025 | SDG 8.7 Roadmap | Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security of Argentina |
| The objective of this IV National Plan is to ensure the prevention and eradication of child labour in all its forms, as well as the protection of adolescent workers, in line with Argentina’s international commitments and national legislation. Representatives from all agencies of the National Executive Branch and the Provincial Commissions for the Prevention of Child Labour actively participated in its development, ensuring a broad, federal, and consensus-based perspective to achieve the proposed goals. The Plan is structured around three main pillars: prevention; detection and intervention; and the restitution of rights. It also pursues three cross-cutting objectives: to generate updated and rigorous information for evidence-based decision-making; to establish a process for reviewing and strengthening CONAETI; and to promote federal cooperation and coordination among national, provincial, and municipal levels. | [{"link_name":"National Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour and Protection of Adolescent Labour","source_link":"https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/resoluci%C3%B3n-1570-2023-394400/texto"}] | 2024-2028 | National Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour and Protection of Adolescent Labour | Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Nation; CONAETI (National Commission for the Eradication of Child Labour) |