Country profile BLZ
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5-17 | 3.2 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2013 | 5-17 | 1.2 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2013 | 5-17 | 2.2 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2013 | 5-17 | 3.9 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2013 | 5-17 | 2.6 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2013 | 5-17 | 3.3 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | N/A | C138 & C182 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4116096,103222: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 Direct Request of 2021 on C138, the Committee noted that a list of types of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years was incorporated as an appendix to the National Child Labour Policy, but observed that such policy was not a piece of legislation, but a guideline policy. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to adopt, without delay, a list of hazardous types of work prohibited for children under the age of 18 years, after consultation with the organisations of employers and workers concerned. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2000-12-31 | C138 & C182 | Families and Children Act - Section 7 | [{"link_name":"Families and Children Act","source_link":"https://www.oas.org/dil/Families_and_Children_Act_Belize.pdf"}] | 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 7 of the Families and Children Act, Chapter 173, states that no children under the age of 18 shall be employed in any activity that may be detrimental to their health, education, or mental, physical or moral development. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2011-12-31 ; 2020-12-31 | C138 | Labour Act 297 ; Shop Act 287 | [{"link_name":"-Labour Act 297","source_link":"https://www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/mesicic5_blz_resp_annex38.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Shop Act 287","source_link":"https://www.agm.gov.bz/uploads/laws/63977052d771d_Cap_287_Shops_Act.pdf"}] | 14 | 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 both texts, the minimum age for admission to apprenticeship is set at 14 years. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2024-02-21 ; 2011-12-31 | C138 | Education and Training (Amendement) Act, 2024 - Section 2 ; Labour Act - Section 164(1) | [{"link_name":"-Education and Training (Amendement) Act, 2024","source_link":"https://www.nationalassembly.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Act-No.-3-of-2024-Education-and-Training-Amendment-Act-2024.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/mesicic5_blz_resp_annex38.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. | According to Section 2 of the Act, a “child of compulsory school age” refers to any person between the ages of 5 and 16. Consequently, the completion age for compulsory schooling is set above the minimum age for admission to employment, which is 14 years, as established in Section 164(1) of the Labour Act. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2011-12-31 | C138 | Labour Act - Section 170 | [{"link_name":"-Labour Act","source_link":"https://www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/mesicic5_blz_resp_annex38.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4116096,103222"}] | Yes | 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. | Section 170 of the Labour Act provides that the Minister may authorise children below 12 years to do some light agricultural or horticultural work in their parents’ or guardians’ land only. According to the CEACR Direct Request on C138, 2021, 'The Committee notes that a Legislative Review Committee (LRC) has recommended raising the minimum age for light work from 12 to 13 years, subject to the conditions that such work is not likely to be harmful to a child's physical health, mental health, safety, moral or general welfare or development; and does not prejudice the child's school attendance or participation in training and vocational programmes, or the child’s capacity to benefit from such instruction (See LRC’s recommendations to sections 2 and 169 of the Labour Act). The Committee further notes that the LRC has proposed a list of types of light work permitted to children from the age of 13 years to be included under the Government Workers Regulations.' |
| Minimum age for light work | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"N/A"}] | 14 | 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. | Minimum age for admission to light work is set at 14 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2011-12-31 ; 1959-10-10 | C138 | Labour Act - Sections 2, 164(1) | [{"link_name":"-Labour Act","source_link":"https://www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/mesicic5_blz_resp_annex38.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Shop Act","source_link":"https://www.agm.gov.bz/uploads/laws/63977052d771d_Cap_287_Shops_Act.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. | According to Section 164(1) of the Labour Act, no person shall employ a child (a person under the age of 14 years as specified in Article 2 of the Labour Act) in a public or private “industrial undertaking” or in a branch thereof. Section 3 of the Shop Act provides for a minimum age to “employment in or about any shop” of 14 years. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2020 ; 2013 | C182 | Commerical Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition)Act ; Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Act | [{"link_name":"-Commerical Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition)Act","source_link":"https://www.agm.gov.bz/uploads/laws/63976d192f5f1_Cap_108.2_Commercial_Sexual_Exploitation_of_Children__Prohibition__Act.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Act","source_link":"https://www.annaobserva.org/observatorio/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Belize-Trafficking-in-Persons-Prohibition-Act-2013.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Both Acts prohibit the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2020-12-31 | C182 | Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act - Sections 4, 6, 7 and 8 | [{"link_name":"Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act","source_link":"https://www.agm.gov.bz/uploads/laws/63976d192f5f1_Cap_108.2_Commercial_Sexual_Exploitation_of_Children__Prohibition__Act.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. | Pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act, 2013, the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution is prohibited, regardless of the child's consent. The national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances, through Sections 7 and 8 of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2011-12-31 | C182 | Defense Act - Article 16 | [{"link_name":"Defense Act","source_link":"https://www.agm.gov.bz/uploads/laws/6397627d27bea_Cap_135_Defence_Act.pdf"}] | 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. | The country has no conscription. According to Article 16 of the Defence Act, a recruiting officer shall not enlist a person under the age of eighteen years in the regular force. There is no mention of recruitment into other armed groups. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2013-01-31; 2020-12-31 | C182 | Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act - Section 11 (2) ; The commercial sexual exploitation of children (prohibition) Act - Section 9(3) | [{"link_name":"-Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act","source_link":"https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Belize-Trafficking-in-Persons-Law.pdf"},{"link_name":"-The commercial sexual exploitation of children (prohibition) Act","source_link":"https://www.agm.gov.bz/uploads/laws/63976d192f5f1_Cap_108.2_Commercial_Sexual_Exploitation_of_Children__Prohibition__Act.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. | Section 11 (2) of the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act increases the sanction for trafficking of children (persons under 18 years) to 12 years of imprisonment. Section 9(3) of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act, 2013, spells out aggravating circumstances in the commission of trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation, which involve the application of more stringent sanctions for the offenders. These include situations when the child suffers a permanent or life-threatening bodily injury, or dies as result of the trafficking. In addition, Section 9 of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (prohibition) Act states that, a person who engages in, conspires to engage in, attempts to engage in, assists another person to engage in, or organizes or directs another person to engage in commercial sexual exploitation and that commercial sexual exploitation also involves the trafficking of a child, that person commits an offence under this Act and is also liable in accordance with the provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act. |
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) | 06-MAR-2000 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 06-MAR-2000 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The National Child Labour Policy and Strategy was developed with the technical support of the ILO and in consultation with the social partners and other relevant stakeholders. The Policy has four objectives: (1) to address existing legislative and information gaps, providing necessary legal protection for all children who are engaged or potentially engaged in child labour; (2) to increase compliance with labour laws for the benefit of children; (3) to substantially reduce barriers to school access and ensure continuous school attendance throughout the legal age for every child; (4) to ensure adequate support and economic resilience for children and their families as a way to pre-empt engagement in child labour. Key strategies contemplated in the Policy include, among others, building awareness among children, their families and society about the danger of child labour; strengthening data collection on child labour; identification of working undocumented child migrants; strengthening mechanisms to reduce child labour in the tourism industry; and extending the social protection floor. | [{"link_name":"National Child Labour Policy and Strategy","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/caribbean/information-resources/publications/WCMS_852959/lang--en/index.htm"}] | 2022-2025 | National Child Labour Policy and Strategy | National Child Labour Committee of the Labour Department |