Country profile SEN
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5-17 | 25.7 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2017 | 5-17 | 8.6 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2016 | 5-17 | 17.1 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2016 | 5-17 | 27.1 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2016 | 5-17 | 18.6 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2016 | 5-17 | 22.8 | 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? | N/A | C182 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/en/legislation/sen/code_des_drogues_/titre_viii/articles_90_95-108/code_des_drogues_.html?#:~:text=Article%20103%3A,pas%20%C3%A9t%C3%A9%20suivie%20d'effets."}] | No | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Although the Drug Law prohibits the cultivation, production, manufacture, extraction, preparation or processing of drugs, no disposition of the text prohibits the use, procuring or offering of a child for such activities. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 1965-07-21 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 320 bis, Article 323, Article 324 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://justice.sec.gouv.sn/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/codepenal.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. | Article 320 bis of the Penal Code prohibits any pornographic manipulation and use of images or sounds for sexual purposes on a child under sixteen years of age. For their part, Article 323 prohibits any pimping activities and Article 324 considers the committing of such offence on a child to be an aggravating circumstance. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 1970-06-27 | C182 | Law No.70-23 on the general organisation of defence - Article 19 | [{"link_name":"Law No.70-23 on the general organisation of defence","source_link":"https://www.forcesarmees.gouv.sn/sites/default/files/loi_70-23_portant_organisation_generale_de_la_defense.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. | Article 19 states that one should be at least 20 years old to be liable for military service thus prohibiting the forced recruitment of children below that age. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2005-05-10 | C182 | Law No. 2005-06 on the fight against trafficking in persons and similar practices and the protection of victims of such practices and the protection of victims - Article 1 | [{"link_name":"Law No. 2005-06","source_link":"https://sgbv-ihrda.uwazi.io/fr/entity/mo2rusgwmgb?page=2"}] | 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 1 of the Law prohibits the trafficking of children notably for sexual or labour exploitation. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2003-11-15 | C138 & C182 | Order N° 3751/MFPTEOPIDTSS establishing the categories of undertakings and work prohibited to children and young persons, as well as the age limit to which the prohibition applies | [{"link_name":"Order N° 3751/MFPTEOPIDTSS","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/sen169096.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. | The Order provides a list with the hazardous activities prohibited to people under the age of 18 years. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2003-06-06 | C138 & C182 | Order N° 3748/MFPTEOP/DTSS on Child Labour - Article 1 | [{"link_name":"-Order N° 3748/MFPTEOP/DTSS on Child Labour","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/64609/SEN64609.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:4366354,103013"}] | 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 1 of the Order sets the minimum age for hazardous work at 18 years. Nevertheless, it should be noted that, in an Observation published in 2024, the Commission of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), noted a contradiction between " section 1 of Order No. 3748/MFPTEOP/DTSS of 6 June 2003 relating to child labour, which provides that the minimum age for admission to hazardous types of work is 18 years, and Order No. 3750/MFPTEOP/DTSS of 6 June 2003 establishing the nature of the hazardous types of work prohibited for children and young persons, which allows persons under 16 years of age to perform certain types of hazardous work.". |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 1997-12-01 | C138 | Labour Code Law No.97-17 - Article L.145 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code Law No.97-17","source_link":"https://senegal.eregulations.org/media/t-loi-portant-code-travail%201.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. | Article 145 of the Code stipulates that apprenticeships are permitted from the age of 15. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2004-12-15 | C138 | Law N° 2004-37 amending and supplementing national education policy law no. 91-22 of 16 February 1991 | [{"link_name":"Law N° 2004-37","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/75283/SEN-75283.pdf"}] | No | 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. | The Decree states that the age of completion of compulsory education is 16 years which is above the minimum age of 15 for admission to work. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2003-066-06 | C138 | Decree N° 3748/MFPTEOP/DTSS on Child Labour - Article 1 | [{"link_name":"Decree N° 3748/MFPTEOP/DTSS on Child Labour","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/64609/SEN64609.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. | Article 1 of the Decree stipulates that children may be employed on light work, provided that it takes place within the family environment and does not harm their health, morals or interfere with the normal course of their schooling. Although Articles 3 and 4 stipulate that in no case may children be employed in actual work for more than eight hours a day and that they may not be required to do any night work, these provisions apply generally to ‘children’, defined in the text as individuals under the age of 18, without specifying the working hours specific to light work. No precise duration seems to be defined for the circumstances in which such light work may be performed |
| Minimum age for light work | 2003-06-06 | C138 | Decree N° 3748/MFPTEOP/DTSS on Child Labour - Article 1 | [{"link_name":"Decree N° 3748/MFPTEOP/DTSS on Child Labour","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/64609/SEN64609.pdf"}] | 12 | 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 1 of the decree stipulates that children may be employed on light work, provided it takes place within the family environment and does not harm their health, morals or interfere with the normal course of their schooling. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1997-12-01 | C138 | Labour Code Law No.97-17 - Article L.145 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code Law No.97-17","source_link":"https://senegal.eregulations.org/media/t-loi-portant-code-travail%201.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. | Article L.145 of the Labour Code sets the minimum age for admission to work at 15 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) | 01-JUN-2000 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 15-DEC-1999 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The PAQUET-EF aims to transform the education system by focusing on several key measures including : Refocusing on Science and Technology by promoting the teaching of science, mathematics, digital skills, and entrepreneurship to align the education system with labour market needs; Improving early Childhood Development by expanding access to early childhood services, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, to ensure equitable development from a young age; Improving Equity in school access by reducing disparities between urban and rural areas and facilitating education access for all children, especially the most vulnerable; Strengthening Governance by enhancing spending efficiency and transparency within the Ministry of National Education while integrating equity and gender equality. | [{"link_name":"PAQUET - EF","source_link":"https://www.globalpartnership.org/fr/node/document/download?file=document/file/a1-sen-esp-paquet_2018-2030.pdf"}] | 2018-2030 | Programme to improve quality, fairness and transparency - Education and training (PAQUET - EF) | Ministry of Education; Ministry of Vocational Apprenticeship and Crafts; Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation; Minister for Good Governance and Child Protection |
| The National Framework Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour (PCN 2024-2028) is the result of a comprehensive and inclusive synthesis process involving all partners and stakeholders in child protection. Its development stems from a lengthy process that began with the evaluation of the previous framework plan (2012-2016). This was followed by a diagnostic analysis, the definition of strategic axes, and finally the finalization and technical validation of the document. Numerous stakeholders, including various sectoral ministries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society, contributed to the development of this PCN. This document, designed as a working tool for all actors involved in the fight against child labour and as a decision-making instrument for the Senegalese Government, aims to more effectively combat child labour in general, and its worst forms in particular. It is structured around five strategic axes: Legal and institutional framework; Education and training; Institutional and social communication; Coordination; Monitoring and evaluation. | [{"link_name":"National Framework Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour in Senegal","source_link":"https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdgtss.gouv.sn%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsimple-file-list%2FPublications%2FAutres%2FPNC-LCTE-VERSION-WEB-ok.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cclo%40ilo.org%7Ce00d665772bd46b1537908de16d61429%7Cd49b07ca23024e7cb2cbe12127852850%7C0%7C0%7C638973306005184368%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vBqEhZd5lk%2FcmIxAONNbttQIkjwKNp8N4IZ7k5YaMZM%3D&reserved=0"}] | 2024-2028 | National Framework Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour in Senegal | Ministry of Civil Service, Labour and Public Service Reform |