Country profile FRA
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? | 1994-03-01 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 227-18 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/texte_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Article 227-18 of the French Penal Code prohibits the use, procuring, or offering of children for illicit activities, including drug trafficking. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 1994-03-01 | C182 | Penal Code - Articles 225-5 to 225-7 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/texte_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/"}] | 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 225-5 to 225-7 of the French Penal Code prohibit the use, procuring, or offering of a child for prostitution and pornography. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 1994-03-01 | C182 | Penal Code - Articles 224-1 A B and C | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/texte_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/"}] | 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 224-1 A B and C of the French Penal Code together prohibit forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2008-03-07 | C182 | Penal Code - Articles 225-4-1 to 225-4-9 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/texte_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/"}] | 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. | Articles 225-4-1 to 225-4-9 of the French Penal Code criminalize the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2008-03-07 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Articles D4153-15 to D4153-37 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/texte_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/"}] | 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. | Articles D4153-15 to D4153-37 of the French Labour Code provide detailed list of hazardous activities prohibited for children under 18, including exposure to toxic substances, extreme temperatures, and heavy machinery. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2008-03-07 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Article L4153-8 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/texte_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/"}] | 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. | The minimum age for hazardous work is 18 years, as stipulated in Article L4153-8 of the French Labour Code. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2008-03-07 | C138 | Labour Code - Article L6222-1 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000037385936"}] | 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. | The minimum age for admission to an apprenticeship in France is 16 years, according to Article L6222-1 of the French Labour Code. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2008-03-07 | C138 | Education Code - Article L131-1 | [{"link_name":"Education Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/texte_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/"}] | 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. | In France, compulsory education is until the age of 16 (Article L131-1 of the Education Code), which coincides with the minimum age for admission to work (16 years as per Article L4153-1 of the Labour Code). |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2008-03-07 | C138 | Labour Code - Article L4153-3, Article L.7124-1 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/LEGISCTA000006189718/#LEGISCTA000006189718"}] | 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. | Article L4153-3 of the French Labour Code defines light work as work that does not interfere with schooling or is not hazardous and states that minors over the age of fourteen are permitted to do light work during their school holidays, provided that they are given effective rest for at least half of each holiday period. Besides, it is worth noting that, Article L.7124-1 of the French Labour code determines the sectors of activity which provide for an exemption from the prohibition on hiring persons under the age of 16 |
| Minimum age for light work | 2008-03-07 | C138 | Labour Code - Article L4153-3 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/LEGISCTA000006189718/#LEGISCTA000006189718"}] | 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. | Article L4153-3 of the French Labour Code permits light work from the age of 14, provided it does not interfere with schooling or is not hazardous. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2008-03-07 | C138 | Labour Code - Article L4153-1 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006072050/LEGISCTA000006189718/#LEGISCTA000006189718"}] | 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. | According to Article L4153-1 of the French Labour Code, the minimum age for admission to work is set at 16 years. |
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) | 11-SEP-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 13-JUL-1990 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France 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, France developed a comprehensive roadmap towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7: 'National Acceleration Strategy to Eliminate Child Labour, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking, and Modern Slavery by 2030'. This roadmap outlines the strategic objectives and actions necessary to make significant progress in these areas. The main objectives of France's roadmap are: Increase prevention by strengthening the capacity of stakeholders to act; Better protect victims by making progress in detection, care, and remediation; Give France's action an ambitious and demanding European and international impetus. | [{"link_name":"National Acceleration Strategy to Eliminate Child Labor, Forced Labor, Human Trafficking, and Modern Slavery by 2030","source_link":"https://www.alliance87.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/Strategie_Nationale_FRANCE_Pays_Pionnier_A87_frc.pdf"}] | up to 2030 | National Acceleration Strategy to Eliminate Child Labor, Forced Labor, Human Trafficking, and Modern Slavery by 2030 | Ministry of Labour, Employment and Integration |