Country profile NIC
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 10-17 | 33.3 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2012 | 10-17 | 17.9 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2012 | 10-17 | 25.9 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2007-11-13 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 349 and 362. b | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/%28%24All%29/1F5B59264A8F00F906257540005EF77E?OpenDocument"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | While Article 349 prohibits the production of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and other controlled substances, Article 362. b. considers as an aggravating circumstance the use of a children below the age of 18 in the committing of such offence. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2007-11-13 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 175 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/%28%24All%29/1F5B59264A8F00F906257540005EF77E?OpenDocument"}] | 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. | Article 175 prohibits the use of children below 18 years for the purpose of prositution or pornography. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2007-11-13 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 105 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/%28%24All%29/1F5B59264A8F00F906257540005EF77E?OpenDocument"}] | 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. | Article 105 of the penal code prohibits the recruitment of children aged below 18 years for use in armed conflict. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2007-11-13 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 182 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/%28%24All%29/1F5B59264A8F00F906257540005EF77E?OpenDocument"}] | 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 182 prohibits trafficking in person and considers as an aggravating circumstance the committing of such offence on a child. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2010-06-23 | C138 & C182 | Ministerial Agreement No. JCHG-08-06-10 on the prohibition of hazardous work for adolescents and list of hazardous work - Article 6 | [{"link_name":"Ministerial Agreement No. JCHG-08-06-10","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/normaweb.nsf/9e314815a08d4a6206257265005d21f9/21a06db73658ddac062577b500722ebb?OpenDocument"}] | 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. | Article 6 of the Law sets out the list of types of work prohibited for children under the age of 18. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1996-03-05 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Articles 133 and 136 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/(All)/FA251B3C54F5BAEF062571C40055736C?OpenDocument"}] | 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. | Article 133 of the Labour Code prohibits the employment of children and young people for hazardous work. For its part, Article 136 specifies that this provision applies to all children below 18 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | N/A | C138 | Labour Code - Article 134 (i) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/(All)/FA251B3C54F5BAEF062571C40055736C?OpenDocument"}] | 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. | Although Article 134(i) of the Labour Code recognizes the right of children and young people to access apprenticeships, it does not specify a minimum age for undertaking such activity. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 1987 ; 2006-03-22 | C138 | Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua - Article 121 ; General Education Act - Section 23. b. 1 | [{"link_name":"-Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/2966/NIC2966l.pdf"},{"link_name":"-General Education Act","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/normaweb.nsf/($All)/B2FBC86E5FD975420625755B00765A99"}] | 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. | While Article 121 of the Constitution states that Primary education is free and compulsory, Section 23 of the General Education Act stipulates that Primary education is aimed at children aged 6 to 12, thus setting the age of completion of compulsory schooling to 12 years, which is below the minimum age for admission to work of 14 years. |
| 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. | Just as the Nicaraguan legal framework does not establish a minimum age for children to engage in light work, it also does not define the types of work or the conditions under which such work may be carried out. |
| 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. | The Nicaraguan legal framework does not establish a minimum age for children to engage in light work. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1996-09-05 | C138 | Labour Code - Article 131 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/(All)/FA251B3C54F5BAEF062571C40055736C?OpenDocument"}] | 14 | 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. | Article 131 of the Labour Code sets the minimum age for admission to work to 14 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-NOV-2000 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 02-NOV-1981 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In an Observation published in 2023, the CEACR noted that the Ministry of the Family, Adolescence and Childhood (MIFAM) had taken measures within families and communities to ensure children’s full development within families, without having to work. To this end, through the “Traffic light Plan” (“Plan Semáforo”), MIFAM raised awareness in families working on their own account to reduce the time the children spend on the streets and in sectors at risk, thereby ensuring that the families enrol and keep their children in the education system. | [{"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:4297486,102780"}] | No information | Traffic light Plan | Ministry of the Family, Adolescence and Childhood |
| To reduce poverty and promote human development, several objectives set out in the focus on strengthening the national education system. For example, it seeks to enhance the inclusiveness, equity, and quality of pre-primary, primary, and secondary education; to improve technical and technological training with priority given to technology and manufacturing; to consolidate the national education system by harmonizing related actions and policies; to upgrade school infrastructure; and to provide support to the most vulnerable families. In addition, in an Observation published in 2023, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) noted that, the objectives of the plan included to have, by 2026, 94 per cent of children in school and 96.9 per cent completing school at primary level (6 to 12 years old); and 93 per cent of children in school and 95.6 per cent completing school at secondary level (12 to 17 years old). The Committee also noted that the plan set out training for 20,000 schoolteachers and headteachers in the proper use of educational technology, and for 260,000 students, teachers and parents through counselling measures among educational communities. | [{"link_name":"-National plan to combat poverty and promote Human development","source_link":"https://www.pndh.gob.ni/documentos/pnlc-dh/PNCL-DH_2022-2026(19Jul21).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:4297461,102780"}] | 2022-2026 | National plan to combat poverty and promote Human development | Nicaraguan governement |
| The plan seeks to continue implementing actions aimed at preventing, investigating, prosecuting, and punishing the crime of human trafficking, while also ensuring comprehensive assistance and protection for victims. To achieve this objective, the following specific goals have been established: Strengthen the technical capacities of public officials, as well as raise awareness and encourage active engagement of the general population in preventing human trafficking; Maintain interinstitutional coordination among specialized units responsible for the investigation, prosecution, and sanctioning of human trafficking offenses; Guarantee comprehensive protection and assistance for victims of human trafficking, promoting their recovery and reintegration into family and social life; Continue developing mechanisms for coordination, monitoring, and oversight of the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention, Assistance, Investigation, Prosecution, and Sanctioning of Human Trafficking (2023–2027). Some provisions of the plan specifically target children and vulnerable groups, such as strengthening awareness-raising mechanisms for the prevention of human trafficking among public servants and the general population, with priority given to girls, boys, adolescents, women, young people, and communities on the Caribbean Coast. | [{"link_name":"National Strategic Plan for the Prevention, Care, Investigation, Persecution, and Sanction of Human Trafficking","source_link":"https://www.annaobserva.org/observatorio/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/plan_estrategico_240322.pdf"}] | 2023-2027 | National Strategic Plan for the Prevention, Care, Investigation, Persecution, and Sanction of Human Trafficking | National Coalition against Human trafficking |