Country profile COG
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5-17 | 9.929 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 11.738 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 10.842 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 13.409 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 14.828 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2015 | 5-17 | 14.125 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2010-06-14 ; 2019-06-17 | C182 | Child Protection Code - Articles 68–70 and 122 ; Law No. 22-2019 on Combating Trafficking in Persons - Article 6 | [{"link_name":"-Child Protection Code","source_link":"https://www.sgg.cg/textes-officiels/lois/2010/congo-loi-2010-04.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Law No. 22-2019 on Combating Trafficking in Persons","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/Con191215.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Articles 68–70 and 122 of the Child Protection Code prohibit using children for illicit activities, including drug production and trafficking. Article 6 of Law No. 22-2019 enforces penalties for those exploiting children in such activities. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2019-06-17 ; 2019-06-17 | C182 | Child Protection Code - Articles 60, 65–68, and 122 ; Law No. 22-2019 on Combating Trafficking in Persons - Article 15 | [{"link_name":"-Child Protection Code","source_link":"https://www.sgg.cg/textes-officiels/lois/2010/congo-loi-2010-04.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Law No. 22-2019 on Combating Trafficking in Persons","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/Con191215.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. | Articles 60, 65–68, and 122 of the Child Protection Code prohibit the involvement of children in prostitution and pornography. Article 15 of Law No. 22-2019 criminalizes the exploitation of children through pornography and prescribes penalties. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2010-06-14 | C182 | Child Protection Act - Articles 49, 68 and 111 | [{"link_name":"Child Protection Act","source_link":"https://www.sgg.cg/textes-officiels/lois/2010/congo-loi-2010-04.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. | Articles 49, 68 and 111 of the Child Protection act prohibit the recruitment of children in armed groups: 'any recruitment or involvement of a child in armed conflicts will be punished as a war crime in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 8-98 of October 31, 1998, concerning the definition and repression of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.' |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2019-06-17 ; 2019-06-19 | C182 | Child Protection Act - Article 60 ; Law No. 22-2019 - Article 5 | [{"link_name":"-Child Protection Act","source_link":"https://www.sgg.cg/textes-officiels/lois/2010/congo-loi-2010-04.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Law No. 22-2019","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/Con191215.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. | Article 60 of the Child Protection Code prohibits child trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation. In addition Article 5 of Law No. 22-2019 criminalizes the trafficking of persons, including children, for the purpose of exploitation. This includes recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by means of threat, use of force, or other forms of coercion. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2010-06-14 | C138 & C182 | Child Protection Act - Article 68 | [{"link_name":"-Child Protection Act","source_link":"https://www.sgg.cg/textes-officiels/lois/2010/congo-loi-2010-04.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4359510,103376"}] | 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. | Article 68 of the child protection act prohibits Activities endangering the physical or mental health of a child. In its Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2023 on C138 'the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the adoption of the decree determining the list of types of hazardous work prohibited to children under 18 years of age, under section 68(d) of the Child Protection Act, in consultation with the social partners'. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2010-06-14 | C138 & C182 | Child Protection Act - Article 68 | [{"link_name":"Child Protection Act","source_link":"https://www.sgg.cg/textes-officiels/lois/2010/congo-loi-2010-04.pdf"}] | 16 | 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. | Article 68 of the Child Protection Act prohibits early employment (set at 16 years) and the worst forms of child labour. Activities endangering the physical or mental health of a child are banned. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 1975-03-15 | C138 | Labour Code - Article 11 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/congo/Congo-Code-1975-du-travail.pdf"}] | 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. | Article 11 of the Labour Code specifies that any apprentice needs to be at least 16 years old. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2010-06-14 | C138 | Child Protection Act - Article 17 | [{"link_name":"-Child Protection Act","source_link":"https://www.sgg.cg/textes-officiels/lois/2010/congo-loi-2010-04.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4359510,103376"}] | 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. | Article 17 of the Child Protection Act mentions that primary education is obligatory starting at the age of 6. While it also stipulates that both primary and secondary education have to be free it does not make secondary education obligatory therby not coinciding with the minimum age for employment that is set at 16 years of age by the Labour code. In its Observation (CEACR) adopted 2023 of C138 the committee requests the Government to intensify its efforts to ensure that children who have not yet reached the minimum age for admission to occupation or employment, set at 14 years, are included in the education system. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 1975-03-15 | C138 | Labour Code | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/congo/Congo-Code-1975-du-travail.pdf"}] | 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 Labour code does not explicitly categorize "light work" nor does it determine types and conditions under which light work may be carried out. |
| Minimum age for light work | 1975-03-15 | C138 | Labour Code | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/congo/Congo-Code-1975-du-travail.pdf"}] | 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. | Congo legal framework does not set a minimum age for admission to light work. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1975-03-15 | C138 | Labour Code - Article 116 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/congo/Congo-Code-1975-du-travail.pdf"}] | 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. | Article 116 of the Labour Code stipulates that: "Children may not be employed in any enterprise, even as apprentices, before the age of 16, except by special exemption granted by the Minister of National Education after consultation with the Labor Inspector of the place of employment or their legal representative. A decree, issued after consultation with the National Consultative Labour Commission, will determine the nature of the work and the categories of enterprises prohibited to young people and the age limit to which the prohibition applies.". |
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) | 23-AUG-2002 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 26-NOV-1999 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Republic of Congo 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, in 2023 the Republic of Congo initiated the development of a roadmap towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7. This roadmap outlines the strategic objectives and actions necessary to make significant progress in these areas from 2023 to 2025. The main objectives of the Republic of Congo's roadmap are: Legal and Policy Revisions: Conduct a legal review of all national instruments related to trafficking, modern slavery, forced labour, and the worst forms of child labour to update and adapt them to achieve the 8.7 target. Coordination and Decentralisation: Establish a national multisectoral committee of Alliance 8.7 and local committees in high-prevalence areas to enhance coordination and decentralisation. Progress Monitoring, Data Collection, and Knowledge Sharing: Develop a national action plan, establish an intervention mapping, create an alert mechanism and an observatory for cases of trafficking and forced labour, and set up a comprehensive database. Strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of involved stakeholders, including administrative and penal jurisdictions, labour inspection, and all actors engaged in preventing and eliminating trafficking, modern slavery, forced labour, and child labour. Enhance information, education, and communication (IEC) efforts targeting the population, and implement free education, vocational training, and professional integration programmes for victims. Funding: Increase funding for activities aimed at eliminating trafficking, modern slavery, forced labour, and the worst forms of child labour and enhance international cooperation for financial support. | [{"link_name":"SDG 8.7 Roadmap","source_link":"https://www.alliance87.org/sites/default/files/2023-12/CONGO%20Feuille%20de%20route.pdf"}] | 2023-2025 | SDG 8.7 Roadmap | Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security. |