Country profile DMA
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? | 1939-02-01 | C182 | Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act - Chapter 37:50 | [{"link_name":"Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act","source_link":"https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/lawlibrary/getattachment/49fc16e8-d2a5-4757-bb00-2dbb99332047/CHILDREN-AND-YOUNG-PERSONS-ACT.aspx"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Chapter 37:50 prohibits the use of persons under 18 years of age for begging. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 1998-04-22 | C182 | Sexual Offences Act - Section 18 (a) | [{"link_name":"Sexual Offences Act","source_link":"https://www.dominica.gov.dm/laws/1998/act1-1998.pdf"}] | No | 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. | According to Section 18 (a), a person who procures or induces a minor to have sexual intercourse with any person is liable to imprisonment for twenty five years. Nevertheless, in an Observation published in 2025, the Committee also noted that no legislative provision existed prohibiting child pornography. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | N/A | C182 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"N/A"}] | 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. | There are no standing army in Dominica. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 1998-04-22 | C182 | Sexual Offences Act - Section 51 | [{"link_name":"Sexual Offences Act","source_link":"https://www.dominica.gov.dm/laws/1998/act1-1998.pdf"}] | No | 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 51, Chapter 10:31 criminalizes the abduction of girls under the age of 18 years for sexual purposes. The Committee, however, noted the absence of legislative provisions specifically prohibiting the trafficking of children (boys and girls) for sexual and labour exploitation and urged the Government to take the necessary measures in this respect. |
| 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:4116337,103311: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. | In Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021 on Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) the Committee noted the Government’s indication that consultations were envisaged with the social partners with a view to determining a list of types of hazardous work prohibited for children under the age of 18 years. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1939-02-01 | C138 & C182 | Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act - Section 7(1) | [{"link_name":"-Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act","source_link":"https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/lawlibrary/getattachment/49fc16e8-d2a5-4757-bb00-2dbb99332047/CHILDREN-AND-YOUNG-PERSONS-ACT.aspx"},{"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:4116337,103311"}] | No | 6 | C138 sets 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 allows 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. The exception to the hazardous work prohibition would allow, for example, young workers to receive on-the-job training in occupations that may involve hazards such as the use of potentially dangerous tools. | According to Section 7(1), no young person (under 18) shall be employed or work during the night in any public or private industrial undertaking, other than an undertaking in which only members of the same family are employed. In Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021 on Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) the Committee noted the absence of a legislative provision setting a minimum age for admission to hazardous work. The Committee also noted the Government’s indication that consultations were envisaged with the social partners with a view to determining a list of types of hazardous work prohibited for children under the age of 18 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 1997-11-13 | C138 | Education Act - Section 46(3) b) | [{"link_name":"Education Act","source_link":"http://education.gov.dm/images/documents/education_laws/Education%20Act%201997%20Act%2011%20of%201997.pdf"}] | 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. | Section 46(3) b) permits the employment of children above 14 years if the employment of the student is part of the school programme to prepare students for future employment. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 1997-11-13 | C138 | Education Act - Section 2 and Section 46(1) | [{"link_name":"-Education Act","source_link":"http://education.gov.dm/images/documents/education_laws/Education%20Act%201997%20Act%2011%20of%201997.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:4116337,103311"}] | N/A | 4 | C138 requires member States to align the age of completion of compulsory education with the minimum age for admission to employment or work. | Section 2 indicates that school is compulsory for all children from the age of 5 to 16 years, and Section 46(1) of the Act prohibits employing a child of school age during the school year. In an Observation published in 2021, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations noted according to section 2 of the Education Act (No. 11 of 1997), school is compulsory for all children from the age of 5 to 16 years, and that section 46(1) of the Act prohibits employing a child of school age during the school year. However, the Committee notes that pursuant to the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, Chapter 90:06, no children under the age of 14 years can be employed in industrial undertakings, other than family undertakings (section 4); or on ships, other than those in which only members of the same family are employed (section 5). In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to clarify the relationship between sections 4 and 5 of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act and sections 2 and 46(1) of the Education Act. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 1997-11-13 | C138 | Education Act | [{"link_name":"Education Act","source_link":"http://education.gov.dm/images/documents/education_laws/Education%20Act%201997%20Act%2011%20of%201997.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 Act does not indicate the types of light work permitted for these children. Conditions for light work have also not been determined yet. |
| Minimum age for light work | 1997-11-13 | C138 | Education Act - Section 46(3) | [{"link_name":"Education Act","source_link":"http://education.gov.dm/images/documents/education_laws/Education%20Act%201997%20Act%2011%20of%201997.pdf"}] | 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. | Section 46(3) permits the employment of children above 14 years of age during school vacations. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1997-11-13 | C138 | Education Act | [{"link_name":"Education Act","source_link":"http://education.gov.dm/images/documents/education_laws/Education%20Act%201997%20Act%2011%20of%201997.pdf"}] | 15 | 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. | The Government initially specified a minimum age of 15 years upon ratification; the Committee observes that the Education Act of 1997 provides for a minimum age for admission to work of 16 years of age. |
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) | 04-JAN-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 27-SEP-1983 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In an Observation it published in 2025, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations noted that "the Education Sector Plan of the Commonwealth of Dominica 2020–2025 (the Plan), [was] implemented by the Ministry of Education to improve the overall quality and efficiency of the education sector. The Plan, focused on gender disparity and climate resilience, defines the mission, vision and strategy of Dominica’s education system. It includes a school safety net programme supporting special needs education, grants, uniforms textbooks, and feeding programmes". | [{"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:4411411,103311"}] | 2020-2025 | The Education Sector Plan of the Commonwealth of Dominica | Ministry of Education |