Country profile SUR
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5-17 | 4.4 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 2.4 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 3.4 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 4.9 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 3.5 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | UN SDG Indicators Database |
| 2018 | 5-17 | 4.3 | 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 | 2010-12-13 | C138 & C182 | Decree on Hazardous Work (S.B. 2010 no. 175) - Articles 2 and 3 | [{"link_name":"Decree on Hazardous Work (S.B. 2010\r\nno. 175)","source_link":"https://www.milieuwetten.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AOH-RT-StaatsbladNo175-2010.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. | Articles 2 and 3 list the types of hazardous work prohibited to children. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2018-08-20 | C138 & C182 | Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons - Articles 2 (j) and 11 | [{"link_name":"Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/112154/SUR112154.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. | While Article 2 (j) defines a young person as a person aged between 16 and 18 years, Article 11 of the same Text prohibits the employment of young person in night work or hazardous work. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 1987 | C138 | Constitution - Article 39 ; Law on Basic Education - Article 5.4 | [{"link_name":"-Constitution","source_link":"https://www.oas.org/juridico/pdfs/mesicic4_sur_const.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Law on Basic Education","source_link":"https://www.rutufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Conceptwet-Basisonderwijs-juli-2014.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. | While Article 39 of the Constitution guarantees compulsory elementary education while Article 5.4 states that elementary education ends when the child reaches 12 years old. Consequently, the minimum age for admission to work is above the age of completion of compulosry schooling. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2018-08-20 | C138 | Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons - Article 1 (k), (l) | [{"link_name":"Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/112154/SUR112154.pdf"}] | 16 | 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 1 (k) and (l) of the Law define a child as a person aged less than 16 years and child labour as work which is prohibited to be performed by children. |
| 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":"N/A"}] | No | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Our research found no evidence that Suriname’s legal framework includes provisions specifically criminalizing the use of children in the commission of illicit activities. |
| 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. | The country has no conscription, implying that military service is only voluntary. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 1910-10-14 | C182 | Criminal Code - Article 303 | [{"link_name":"Criminal Code","source_link":"https://www.dna.sr/media/vo4du3gs/s-b-_2015_no-_44_wet_van_30_mrt_15_wijz-_wetboek_van_strafrecht.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 303 of the Criminal Code states that, anyone who, through gifts or promises of money or goods, abuse of factual circumstances resulting in superiority or deception, deliberately induces a minor of irreproachable conduct, whose minority he knows or reasonably should suspect, to commit indecent acts acts with him or to tolerate such acts from him, shall be punished. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2015 | C182 | Criminal Code - Article 334 | [{"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:4397588,103287:NO"},{"link_name":"-Criminal Code","source_link":"https://www.dna.sr/media/vo4du3gs/s-b-_2015_no-_44_wet_van_30_mrt_15_wijz-_wetboek_van_strafrecht.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. | In a Direct Request published in 2025, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) noted that section 334 of the 2015 Criminal Code prescribes penalties of up to nine years of imprisonment for trafficking in persons when the victim is 16 years or older, and up to 12 years of imprisonment when the victim is younger than 16 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2018-08-20 | C138 | Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons - Article 6 | [{"link_name":"Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons","source_link":"https://gov.sr/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wet-arbeid-kinderen-en-jeugdige-personen.pdf"}] | 14 | 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 6 of the Law sets the minimum age for admission to vocational training to 14 years. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2018-08-20 | C138 | Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons - Articles 4 and 5 | [{"link_name":"Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons","source_link":"https://gov.sr/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wet-arbeid-kinderen-en-jeugdige-personen.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 4 of the Law sets out the conditions under which children may perform light work. It specifies that light work is prohibited on Sundays and must not exceed 10 hours per week. These provisions apply to activities such as car washing, light auxiliary work in agriculture, and domestic tasks. In addition, Article 5 of the same text allows children aged 15 and above to perform light non-industrial work and sets out the conditions under which such work may be carried out. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2018-08-20 | C138 | Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons - Article 4. 1 | [{"link_name":"Law on Employment of Children and Young Persons","source_link":"https://gov.sr/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wet-arbeid-kinderen-en-jeugdige-personen.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. | Article 4.1 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 | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 15-JAN-2018 | Source |
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 12-APR-2006 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In an Observation published in 2025, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) noted the adoption of a National Action Plan on Child Labour for the period 2019–24. The action plan specifies, among other elements, the legislation to be strengthened, the approaches for prevention, victim support, and reintegration, as well as measures in education and vocational training. It also includes actions to reduce poverty through financial support to families and the implementation of information campaigns to raise awareness about eliminating child labour. | [{"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:4397082,103287"}] | 2019-2024 | National Action Plan on Child Labour | Ministry of Labour |
| The DWCP reflects the shared commitment of the Government of Suriname, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote Decent Work. It identifies three key priorities to achieve this goal: Environmentally sustainable and diversified economic growth, alongside sustainable enterprise development, to expand opportunities for decent employment; Workforce skills development, employment services, and a coherent, universal social protection system to ensure secure livelihoods for all Surinamese; Stronger labour market governance and institutions to guarantee decent work and the effective realization of fundamental rights at work. | [{"link_name":"DWCP","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/%40americas/%40ro-lima/%40sro-port_of_spain/documents/publication/wcms_868061.pdf"}] | 2023-2026 | Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) | DWCP Steering Committee |