Country profile ATG
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? | 2010 | C182 | Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010 - Sections 15 and 16 | [{"link_name":"Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010","source_link":"https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/a2010-6.pdf"}] | No | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | The "Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010" includes Sections 15 and 16, which address child trafficking for exploitative purposes. The Act does not specifically mention the fabrication, preparation, extraction, production, transportation, trafficking, exportation of drugs or psychotropic substances, or other illicit activities, in relation to child trafficking. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2010 | C182 | Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010 - Sections 15 and 19 | [{"link_name":"Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010","source_link":"https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/a2010-6.pdf"}] | 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. | The "Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010" addresses the prohibition of the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation: Section 15 of the Act indicates higher penalties for offences involving sexual exploitation of children and Section 19 states that consent is irrelevant, aligning with C182’s stance that the use of a child under 18 for prostitution is prohibited regardless of consent. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | No information | C182 | No information | [{"link_name":"No information","source_link":"No information"}] | No | 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. | No information |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2010 | C182 | Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010 - Sections 15 and 19 | [{"link_name":"Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010","source_link":"https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/a2010-6.pdf"}] | 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. | The "Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010" addresses the prohibition of the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation. Section 15 of the Act indicates higher penalties for offences involving sexual exploitation of children and Section 19 states that consent is irrelevant, aligning with C182’s stance that the use of a child under 18 for prostitution is prohibited regardless of consent. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | N/A | C138 & C182 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4368148,103369:NO"}] | No | 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. | In its CEACR Observation on C138 adopted in 2023, the Committee writes: "Observing that the Convention was ratified by Antigua and Barbuda more than 30 years ago, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that a list of activities and occupations prohibited for persons below 18 years of age is adopted in the near future" |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1975-09-19 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Section E5(2) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=52115"}] | 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. | According to Section E5(2) a person shall not employ a young person (16-18 years old) who is within the compulsory school age during school hours. (3) Except as hereinafter provided, no young person shall be employed on night work, namely- (a) no young person shall be employed or shall work during eleven consecutive hours any of which are between ten p.m. and five a.m. in any public or private agricultural or industrial undertaking, in any branch thereof, other than an undertaking in which only members of the same family are employed and any person who employs any young person or permits him to work in contravention of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | No information | C138 | No information | [{"link_name":"No information","source_link":"No information"}] | No | 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. | No information |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2008-12-04 ; 1975-09-19 | C138 | Education Act - Section 27(1), Section 47(1) ; Labour Code - Section E3 | [{"link_name":"-Education Act","source_link":"https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/a2008-10.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Labour Code","source_link":"https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-27.pdf"}] | No | 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 Education Act of 2008 (Act No. 21 of 2008) prohibits employing a child of school age during the school year (pursuant to Section 47(1)) and specifies that education is compulsory for all persons under 16 years of age (pursuant to Section 27(1)). This differs from the minimum age for admission to work set to 14 years in Section E3 of the Labour Code. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | No information | C138 | Just like like work in not allowed in Antigua and Barbuda, the national legal framework does not determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"No information"}] | 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. | No information |
| Minimum age for light work | No information | C138 | National legislation in Antigua and Barbuda does not allow light work. | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"No information"}] | N/A | 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. | No information |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1975-09-19 | C138 | Labour Code - Sections E2 and E3 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-27.pdf"}] | 14 | 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. | While Section E2 of the Labour Code defines a child as a person aged below 14 years, Section E3 sets that no child shall be employed or shall work in a public or private agricultural or industrial undertaking or in any branch thereof, or on any ship. |
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) | 16-SEP-2002 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 17-MAR-1983 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research did not provide evidence of any specific action plans or strategies specifically addressing child labour. | [{"link_name":"Source","source_link":"No information"}] | No information | No information | No information |