Country profile GUY
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5-17 | 9.663 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 11.083 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 9.64 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 10.08 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 11.57 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 10.84 | 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? | 1988-03-26 | C182 | Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act | [{"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:4356281,103086:NO"}] | No | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | In the Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023 on C182, "The Committee notes the Government’s indication, in its report, that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was not reviewed to introduce a provision prohibiting the use, procuring or offering of a child for the production or trafficking of drugs, but that it will keep the Office informed when such a review and amendments have been completed." |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2005-10-03 ; 2010-05-25 | C182 | Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act - Articles 2, 3(2) ; Protection of Children Act - Articles 50 and 51(3) | [{"link_name":"-Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act","source_link":"https://mhsss.gov.gy/Documents/Legislation/Trafficking%20In%20Persons/The%20Combating%20of%20Trafficking%20in%20Persons%20Bill%202023.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Protection of Children Act","source_link":"https://labour.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cap.-4606-Protection-of-Children-Act.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. | Article 2 of the Combating of Trafficking in persons act interprets exploitation as including (iv) sexual servitude, (v) exploitation of prostitution of another, (vi) engaging in any form of commercial sexual exploitation including pornography. Article 3(2) of the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act prohibits "The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of any child, or the giving of payments or benefits to obtain the consent of a person having control of a child, for the purpose of exploitation shall constitute trafficking in persons irrespective of whether any of the means described in section 2(k) have been established". Articles 50 and 51(3) of the Protection of Children Act prohibits employing a child in an establishment to engage in acts of prostitution. It does not mention however other forms of sexual exploitation, nor does it mention the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials including non recorded performances. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2005-10-03 ; 1980-10-06 ; 1966-05-22 | C182 | Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act - Articles 2, 3, and 8 ; Constitution of The Cooperative Repubic of Guyana Act - Article 140 ; Defence Act Chapter - Section 18.(2) | [{"link_name":"-Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act","source_link":"https://mola.gov.gy//laws/Volume%203%20Cap.%206.03%20-%2010.071696971228.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Constitution of The Cooperative Repubic of Guyana Act","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.gy/Constitution%20of%20the%20Cooperatiive%20Republic%20of%20Guyana.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Defence Act Chapter","source_link":"https://andyreiter.com/wp-content/uploads/military-justice/gy/Laws%20and%20Decrees/Guyana%20-%201966%20-%20Defence%20Act%20with%20Amendments%20through%202011.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 2, 3, and 8 of the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act protects children under 18 from trafficking, forced labour. Article 140 of the Constitution prohibits slavery and forced labour of all persons. In addition, according to Section 18.(2) of the Defence Act Chapter 15:01, a recruiting officer shall not enlist a person under the age of 18 years in the regular Force, unless consent to the enlistment has been given in writing. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2005-10-03 | C182 | Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act - Articles 2 and 3(2) | [{"link_name":"Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act","source_link":"https://mola.gov.gy//laws/Volume%203%20Cap.%206.03%20-%2010.071696971228.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 2 of the Combating of Trafficking in persons act interprets exploitation as including (iv) sexual servitude, (v) exploitation of prostitution of another, (vi) engaging in any form of commercial sexual exploitation including pornography. Article 3(2) of the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act prohibits "The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of any child, or the giving of payments or benefits to obtain the consent of a person having control of a child, for the purpose of exploitation shall constitute trafficking in persons irrespective of whether any of the means described in section 2(k) have been established". |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2009-12-29 | C138 & C182 | Occupational Safety and Health Act - Articles 41(1), 75(1) | [{"link_name":"-Occupational Safety and Health Act","source_link":"https://gcci.gy/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Occupational-Health-and-Safety-cap9910.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:4356281,103086"}] | 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 Occupational Safety and Health Act Article 41(1), no child shall be employed in any factory or in the business of a factory outside the factory, or in any business trade or process ancillary to the business of the factory. Article 75(1) states that, subject to a negative resolution of the National Assembly, the Minister may from time to time make regulations: (a) prohibiting the employment of, or modifying or limiting the period of employment of, all persons or any class of persons in connection with any manufacture, machinery, plant, process, or description of labour certified by the Authority, by notice published in the Gazette, to be dangerous. In its Direct Request (CEACR) adopted in 2023 on C182, "The Committee notes, from the Government’s report under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), that it is considering revising its list of hazardous work and that it has sought ILO technical assistance in this regard." ... "The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the progress made towards the revision of the list of hazardous work prohibited for children under the age of 18 years and to supply a copy of the new list once adopted." |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1938-04-01 | C138 & C182 | Employment of Young Persons and Children Act - Article 3.(2) | [{"link_name":"Employment of Young Persons and Children Act","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=46808"}] | 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. | The Employment of Young Persons and Children Act Article 3.(2) prohibits employment of young persons and children in industrial undertakings while Article 2. defines a young person as a person who has ceased to be a child and who is under the age of sixteen years. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2004-06-23 | C138 | Technical and Vocational Education and Training - Section 2(b) | [{"link_name":"Technical and Vocational \r\nEducation and Training","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.gy/new2/documents/acts/4640-act_no_11_of_2004.pdf"}] | 15 | 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 Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act 2004 Section 2(b) an "apprentice" means any person, aged 15 years or over, employed in or in connection with any employment-based training mentioned in the regulations, with the objective or purpose of earning or acquiring any skill therein and whether such person is or is not bound to any master by agreement." |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 1876-07-04 | C138 | Education Act - Articles 13 and 22 | [{"link_name":"Education Act","source_link":"https://media.unesco.org/sites/default/files/webform/r2e002/b21a421586b7c3dfb317764cc8cc92fdb4964d04.pdf"}] | 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. | Articles 13 and 22 of the Education Act make it compulsory for parents to educate children between 6 and 15 years. Therefore the minimum age of completing compulsory education and that of admission to work align. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"N/A"}] | 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. | Guyana’s legislation has no express provision regarding a list of light work activities. |
| Minimum age for light work | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"N/A"}] | 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. | Guyana’s legislation has no express provision regarding light work. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1938-04-01 | C138 | Employment of Young Persons and Children Act - Articles 2 and 3(1) | [{"link_name":"Employment of Young Persons and Children Act","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/46808/GUY46808%202012.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. | According to Articles 2 and 3(1) of the Employment of Young Persons and Children Act: 'A child means a person under the age of fifteen years' and 'No child shall be admitted to employment or work in any occupation.' |
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) | 15-JAN-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 15-APR-1998 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This particular policy and action plan was referred to in an article on the UNICEF Guyana website. However, online research has not provided an official government link with detailed documentation available for download. | [{"link_name":"Child labour policy and National Plan of Action","source_link":"https://www.unicef.org/guyanasuriname/stories/child-labour-policy-and-national-plan-action"}] | 2018-2025 | Child labour policy and National Plan of Action | Government of Guyana, Unicef |