Country profile GMB
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5-17 | 15.49 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 11.93 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 13.59 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 16.51 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 17.18 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 16.86 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2005-06-23 | C138 & C182 | The Children's Act - Section 2.(1) and Section 44. (1) | [{"link_name":"The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.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. | According to the Children's Act, 2005, Section 2.(1), a Child means a person under the age of 18, and Section 44. (1) prohibits a person from engaging a child in hazardous work. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2005-06-23 | C138 | The Children's Act - Section 51 | [{"link_name":"-The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.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:4341297,103226"}] | 12 | 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 the Children's Act, 2005, section 51, the minimum age at which a child may commence apprenticeship with a craftsman is 12 years or after completion of basic education. In it's Observation (CEACR) - adopted in 2023 on C138, the Committee "notes with regret the Government’s indication that sections 78 and 79 of the Labour Bill, which regulate apprenticeships, remain silent regarding the minimum age for admission to apprenticeships. This means that the issue of the minimum age for admission to apprenticeships (currently 12 years of age in the informal economy by virtue of sections 50 and 51 of the Children’s Act, 2005, and no minimum age for apprenticeships in the formal economy under the Labour Act, 2007) remains unresolved. " |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 1996-08-08 ; 2005-06-23 | C138 | The Gambian Constitution - Article 30.(a). ; The Children's Act - Section 18.(1)(2) | [{"link_name":"-The Gambian Constitution","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=48490"},{"link_name":"-The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.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:4341297,103226"}] | 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. | According to The Constitution Article 30.(a). "Basic education shall be free, compulsory and available to all. " The Children's Act, 2005 Section 18.(1)(2) also expresses the right to free and compulsory basic education. The CEACR Observation - adopted in 2023 on C138, requests the government "to take measures to ensure that the revision of the Children’s Act will introduce compulsory schooling up to the minimum age for admission to employment or work of 14 years, in compliance with Article 2(3) of the Convention. It requests the Government to provide information on the progress achieved in this respect.". |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2005-06-23 | C138 | The Children's Act - Article 43 (2) | [{"link_name":"-The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.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:4341297,103226"}] | 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. | Article 43 (2) of the Children's Act specifies that light work means work, which is not likely to be harmful to the health or development of the child and does not affect the child’s attendance at school or the capacity of the child to benefit from school work. In its Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2023, on C138 : "The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the new provisions regulating the minimum age for light work and determining the types of light work activities, the number of hours and the conditions in which light work may be undertaken by children, are adopted in the near future". |
| Minimum age for light work | 2005-06-23 | C138 | The Children's Act - Section 43(1) | [{"link_name":"The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.pdf"}] | 16 | 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. | According to the Children's Act, 2005, section 43(1) the minimum age for engaging a child for light work is 16 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2007-12-13 | C138 | The Labour Act - Sections 2.(1), 45.(1) | [{"link_name":"The Labour Act","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=79075"}] | 18 | 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 the Labour Act, 2007 Section 2.(1) a child is any person under the age of 18 years. Section 45.(1) prohibits engagement of children in any private or public agricultural, industrial or non-industrial undertaking or any of their branches |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2005-06-23 | C182 | The Children's Act - Section 31.(1), Section 37. (1) | [{"link_name":"The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | The Children's Act, 2005 Section 31.(1) prohibits the use or procuring a child '(b) for the production or trafficking of drugs. Section 37. (1) specifies that a person shall not sell, hire, let or otherwise obtain possession or dispose of a child with intent that the child shall be employed or used for the immoral purposes or knowing it is likely that the child will be employed or used for that purpose. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2005-06-23 | C182 | The Children's Act - Section 31 (1)-a) | [{"link_name":"The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.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 Children's Act, 2005 Section 31 (1)-a) stipulates severe penalties or punishment for any person who procures or offers a child ` for prostitution, or the production of pornography, or for pornographic performance'. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2005-06-23 | C182 | The Children's Act - Section 59. | [{"link_name":"The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.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 Children's Act, 2005 Section 59.(1),(2) prohibits recruitment of children into armed forces or other security agencies and requires that no child is involved in any military operations or hostilities. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2005-06-23 | C182 | The Children's Act - Section 39.(1) | [{"link_name":"The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.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 Children's Act, 2005 Section 39.(1) stipulates: "Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a person shall not engage in child trafficking, or recruit, transport, transfer, harbour or receive a child by means of threat, force, or other form of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or position or otherwise, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or any other form of exploitation". |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2005-06-23 | C138 & C182 | The Children's Act - Section 42. (1) and Section 44. (3) | [{"link_name":"The Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.rodra.co.za/images/countries/gambia/legislation/CHILDREN_S%20ACT,%202005.pdf"}] | 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. | According to the Children's Act, 2005, Section 42. (1) a person shall not engage a child in night work. According to Section 44. (3) hazardous work includes: (a) going to sea; (b) mining and quarrying; (c) carrying of heavy loads; (d) work in manufacturing industries where chemical are produced or used; (e) work in places where machines are used. |
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) | 03-JUL-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 04-SEP-2000 | 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 |