Country profile LCA
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 5-14 | 2.4 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 1.4 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 1.9 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 4.6 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 1.9 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 3.3 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 1985-12-10 | C138 & C182 | Employees (Occupational Health and Safety) Act - Sections 2 and 23 | [{"link_name":"Employees (Occupational Health and Safety) Act","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/legislation/EmployeesOccupationalHealthandSafetyAct.pdf"}] | 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. | Section 23 of the Act sets a list of hazardous activities prohibited to young people, defined as persons aged less than 16 years in Section 2 of the same Text. However, such provision fails to protect children aged between 16 and 18 years. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2006 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Section 2 and Section 122 (2) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/legislation/saintlucialabourcode2006.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. | Section 122 (2) of the Labour Code states that a person may not employ or allow to be employed a child or young person in employment that is inappropriate for a person of that age, being work which places at risk the child or young person’s wellbeing, education, safety, physical or mental health, or spiritual, moral or social development. For its part, Section 2 of the same Text defines a child as a person aged below 15 years and a young person as a person aged below 18 years, thus prohibiting the employment of children less than 18 years for hazardous work. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2006 ; 2005-12-31 | C138 | Labour Code - Section 122 (1) ; Education Act - Section 27 (1) | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/legislation/saintlucialabourcode2006.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Education Act","source_link":"https://www.education.gov.lc/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Education-Act-Cap.18.01.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. | Section 122 (1) of the Labour Code states that a person shall not employ or allow to be employed any child who is under the minimum school leaving age which Article 27 (1) of the Education Act sets to 15 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2006 and 2005-12-31 | C138 | Labour Code - Section 122 (1) ; Education Act -Section 27 (1) | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/legislation/saintlucialabourcode2006.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Education Act","source_link":"https://www.education.gov.lc/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Education-Act-Cap.18.01.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. | Section 122 (1) of the Labour Code states that a person shall not employ or allow to be employed any child who is under the minimum school leaving age while Section 27 (1) of the Education Act stipulates that every child shall attend school from the beginning of the school year in which that child attains the age of 5 years until the end of the school year in which that child attains the age of 15 years. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2008-12-31 | C182 | Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act - Section 13 | [{"link_name":"-Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act","source_link":"https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/drugs-prevention-of-misuse-act/section-13"},{"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:4419395,103329"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 13 of the Act stipulates that any person who employs, hires, or uses a child or a young person under the age of 18 years in the drug trade commits an offence. However, it should be noted that in a Direct Request published in 2025, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), requested the Government to indicate the legislative provisions that provide for specific penalties for violation of section 13 of the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act . |
| 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"}] | N/A | 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. | Saint Lucia has no circonscription and no standing military. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2010-01-25 | C182 | Counter-Trafficking Act - Section 2, Section 3. (a) and Section 5 | [{"link_name":"Counter-Trafficking Act","source_link":"https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/counter-trafficking-act"}] | 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. | Section 2 of the Act defines “exploitation” as the engagement in any form of commercial sexual exploitation, including but not limited to pimping, pandering, procuring, profiting from prostitution, maintaining a brothel, or producing child pornography. Section 3(a) further provides that “trafficking in persons” includes the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation. Since Section 5 expressly prohibits the trafficking of children, it thereby also prohibits the use of children for the purposes of prostitution and child pornography. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2010-01-25 | C182 | Counter-Trafficking Act - Section 5 | [{"link_name":"Counter-Trafficking Act","source_link":"https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/counter-trafficking-act/section-5"}] | 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. | Section 5 of the Act prohibits the trafficking of children. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2006 | C138 | Labour Code - Sections 2 and 122. (3) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/legislation/saintlucialabourcode2006.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 122. (3) of the Labour Code allows "work done by children or young persons in technical schools as part of their technical program where such work is approved and supervised by the relevant public authority". A child is defined as a person aged 15 or below by Section 2 of the Text. Consequently, no minimum age for admission to apprenticeship is clearly determined. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2006 | C138 | Labour Code - Section 122. (3) (f) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/legislation/saintlucialabourcode2006.pdf"}] | 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. | Section 122. (3) (f) of the Labour Code states that children aged above 13 years may engage in light work including newspaper rounds, car-washing, cake sales and other sales at school and charity fairs, if such light work is approved by the Labour Commissioner by Order published in the Gazette after consultation with organizations of employers and employees concerned. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2006 | C138 | Labour Code - 122. (3) (f) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/legislation/saintlucialabourcode2006.pdf"}] | 13 | 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 122. (3) (f) of the Labour Code sets the minimum age for admission to light work to 13 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) | 06-DEC-2000 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 05-JUN-2025 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The plan aims to provide a quality and equitable education to all children. Some of its main axis include : Access to quality inclusive education; Development of social justice and equity, academic and social benefits for all; Enhancement of compliance with legal and human rights standards. | [{"link_name":"Special Needs Education Policy and Strategy","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/pressroom/news/attachments/st-lucia-sen-policy-strategy-2023r15.11.23.pdf"}] | 2023 | Special Needs Education Policy and Strategy | Departement of Education |
| The plan aims to modernize the Social Protection systems and strengthen the capacity to deliver services in an efficient and effective way; Rationalize, reform and strengthen protective interventions and strategies; Rationalize, reform and strengthen preventive and promotive interventions and strategies; and Review and develop the institutional, financial and legal frameworks for more coordinated and transformative social protection services. Some axis of the plan target more specifically at children, including : implement a basic income security, in the form of various social transfers (in-cash or in-kind), such as pensions for children; outline and adopt life-cycle, human development and rights-based approaches to provide services to the most vulnerable and poorest populations (including child sensitive and gender responsive approaches); target human capital investments in education, health, nutrition and skill development for vulnerable children and their families to overcome inter-generational cycle of poverty; Develop, reform and strengthen the interventions and regulations concerning family wellbeing, child protection, at risk youth, and gender based violence support; Rationalize, reform and strengthen interventions and regulations concerning education services (early childhood development (ECD) and school-based social safety net services reform – books – uniforms – transportation – after-school community programme). | [{"link_name":"National Social Protection Policy","source_link":"https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/publications/nspp---final-05.03.15.pdf"}] | 2015 | National Social Protection Policy | Ministry of Social Transformation, Local Government and Community Empowerment |
| In a Direct Request published in 2025, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) takes due note of the elaboration of the National Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Persons for 2015-2018. | [{"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:4419395,103329"}] | 2015-2018 | National Plan for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons | Saint Lucia Government |