Country profile ZMB
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 5-17 | 20.2 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-17 | 20.1 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-17 | 20.2 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-17 | 22.9 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-17 | 23 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-17 | 23 | 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? | 2019-04-11 ; 2016-01-05 | C182 | The Employment Code Act, 2019 - Section 3. ; Section 80. (c) ; Section 83. (1) ; Constitution - Section 266. | [{"link_name":"-The Employment Code Act, 2019","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/The%20Employment%20Code%20Act%20No.%203%20of%202019.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Constitution","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/amendment_act/Constitution%20of%20Zambia%20%20(Amendment),%202016-Act%20No.%202_0.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 80. (c) of the Act provides that the worst form of labour include "the use, procuring or offering of a young child or a young person for illicit activities, such as the production and trafficking of illegal drugs". For its part, Section 83. (1) of the Text prohibits the employment of child or young person in worst form of labour. Section 3. of the Act stipulates it understand the term "child" under the light of the definition provided by the Constitution which should mean "a person who has attained, or is below, the age of eighteen years" according to Section 266. of the Constitution. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2019-04-11 ; 2016-01-05 | C182 | The Employment Code Act, 2019 - Section 3. ; Section 80. (b) and Section 83. (1) ; Constitution - Section 266. | [{"link_name":"-The Employment Code Act, 2019","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/The%20Employment%20Code%20Act%20No.%203%20of%202019.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Constitution","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/amendment_act/Constitution%20of%20Zambia%20%20(Amendment),%202016-Act%20No.%202_0.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. | Section 80. (b) of the Act provides that the worst form of labour include "the use, procuring or offering of a young child or young person for prostitution, production of pornography or for pornographic performances". For its part, Section 83. (1) of the Text prohibits the employment of child or young person in worst form of labour. Section 3. of the Act stipulates it understand the term "child" under the light of the definition provided by the Constitution which should mean "a person who has attained, or is below, the age of eighteen years" according to Section 266. of the Constitution. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2019-04-11 ; 2016-01-01 | C182 | The Employment Code Act, 2019 - Section 3. ; Section 80. (a) and Section 83. (1) ; Constitution - Section 266. | [{"link_name":"-The Employment Code Act, 2019","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/The%20Employment%20Code%20Act%20No.%203%20of%202019.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Constitution","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/amendment_act/Constitution%20of%20Zambia%20%20(Amendment),%202016-Act%20No.%202_0.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. | Section 80. (a) of the Act provides that the worst form of labour include "all forms of slavery and all practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of young children and young persons, the use or procuring of young children for begging, debt bondage, serfdom enforce and compulsory labour". For its part, Section 83. (1) of the Text prohibits the employment of child or young person in worst form of labour. Section 3. of the Act stipulates it understand the term "child" under the light of the definition provided by the Constitution which should mean "a person who has attained, or is below, the age of eighteen years" according to Section 266. of the Constitution. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2022-08-09 ; 2016-01-05 | C182 | The Children's Code Act, 2022 - Section 14. (1) ; Constitution - Section 266. | [{"link_name":"-The Children's Code Act, 2022","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/113999/ZMB113999.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Constitution","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/amendment_act/Constitution%20of%20Zambia%20%20(Amendment),%202016-Act%20No.%202_0.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. | Section 14.(1) of the Act stipulates that "A child shall not take part in hostilities or be recruited in armed conflict.". The Text defines a child has the meaning assigned to the word in the Constitution. In its Section 266., the Constitution defines a child as a person who has attained, or is below the age of 18 years, thus prohibiting the recruitment of all children below the age of 18 for the purpose of armed conflict. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2013-12-27 | C138 & C182 | Prohibition of the Employment of Young Persons and Children (Hazardous Labour) Order, 2013 | [{"link_name":"Prohibition of the Employment of Young Persons and Children (Hazardous Labour) Order, 2013","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/95833/ZMB95833.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 with the hazardous works prohibited to children and young Persons. As a statutory instrument to the Employment of Young Persons and Children Act, it follow the same definitions of the terms "children" and "young person" that this latest defines it its Section 2. Consequently, a young person should mean a children below the age of 18 years and the list of hazardous works prohibited in the Order apply to all children below the age of 18 years. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2022-08-09 ; 2016-01-05 | C138 & C182 | Children's Code Act, 2022 - Section 2. and Section 13. (1) ; Constitution - Section 266. | [{"link_name":"-Children's Code Act, 2022","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/113999/ZMB113999.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Constitution","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/amendment_act/Constitution%20of%20Zambia%20%20(Amendment),%202016-Act%20No.%202_0.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 13. (1) of the Children's Code prohibits the employment of children for hazardous work. In its Section 2., the Text defines a child as the meaning assigned to the word in the Constitution. Definition Section 266. of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act, 2016, stipulates that a child is a person who has attained, or is below, the age of 18 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 1965-09-03 | C138 | The Apprenticeship Act - Section 23. 3. | [{"link_name":"The Apprenticeship Act","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/Apprenticeship%20Act.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. | Section 23. 3. of the Act sets the minimum age for admission to apprenticeship to 15 years. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_LANG_CODE:4358245,en:NO"}] | N/A | 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. | In an Observation published in 2024, the CEACR noted with regret that "while section 17 of the Education Act of 2011 provides that parents shall enrol their child who has attained the school-going age at an educational institution and ensure the child’s attendance, it neither defines the school-going age nor indicates the age of completion of compulsory schooling.". |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_LANG_CODE:4358245,fr:NO"}] | 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. | In an Observation published in 2024, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), observed with regret that " the types of light work permitted to children between the ages of 13 and 15, pursuant to sections 80 and/or 137(n) of the Employment Code Act No. 3 of 2019 and to the Statutory Instrument No. 121 of 2013 on the Prohibition of Employment of Young Persons and Children (Hazardous Labour) Order (S.I. No. 121 of 2013), have yet to be determined by statutory instrument.". |
| Minimum age for light work | 2019-04-11 | C138 | The Employment Code Act, 2019 - Section 82. (2) | [{"link_name":"The Employment Code Act, 2019","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/The%20Employment%20Code%20Act%20No.%203%20of%202019.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 82. (2) of the Act sets the minimum age for light work to 13 years. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2019-04-11 | C138 | Employment Code Act, 2019 - Section 16. (1) and Section 16. (3) | [{"link_name":"Employment Code Act, 2019","source_link":"https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/The%20Employment%20Code%20Act%20No.%203%20of%202019.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 16. (1) of the Act sets the minimum age for admission to work to 15 years. According to Section 16. (3), exceptions to this minimum age can be made in the case of a children who has "(a) been formally exempted from compulsory school attendance in terms of the Education Act, 2011; and (b) failed to secure admission to a suitable school or whose enrolment has been cancelled or terminated by the school authorities or for good cause by a parent, except that in either case, the person shall only be employed on (i) prescribed terms and conditions; and (ii) approval, by an authorised officer, of the nature of the person’s employment.". |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 09-FEB-1976 | Source |
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 10-DEC-2001 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As part of the the eighth National Development Plan, The Strategic Plan is aimed at providing accessible, inclusive and quality education for all in Zambia. To meet this goal, it follows 7 main strategic objectives : 1. Improve learning achievements; 2. Increase access and participation in education; 3. Improve education financing and management; 4. Enhance management systems; 5. Improve human resource capacity; 6. Enhance the education regulatory framework; and; 7. Improve education infrastructure and equipment. | [{"link_name":"Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Education","source_link":"https://www.edu.gov.zm/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MOE-STARTEGIC-PLAN.pdf"}] | 2022-2026 | Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Education | Ministry of Education |
| Some points of concern of the Policy deal with the cases of child marriage; the use of false adoption as a form of human trafficking; the absence of regional framework on the cross border migration for unaccompanied minors to effectively protect them from human trafficking and smuggling of migrants; the challenge posed by human trafficking in child labour. To tackle these issue and more globally, to reduce human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, the Policy seeks to meet 4 main objectives : To reduce the incidences of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants within, though, to and from Zambia by 2030 ; To enhance the capacity of the criminal justice system to investigate, identify and prosecute human trafficking and smuggling of migrant cases effectively and efficiently by 2026 ; To strengthen national capacity to provide protection services and care for victims, witnesses and potential victims of human trafficking by 2030 ; To strengthen national, regional and international coordination and cooperation, to curb human trafficking and smuggling of migrants by 2025. | [{"link_name":"National Policy on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants","source_link":"https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/documents/2023-05/national_policy_on_human_trafficking_and_smuggling_of_migrants.pdf"}] | 2022 | National Policy on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants | Secretariat for the National Committee on Human Trafficking |
| The plan's overall objective is to " contribute to the effective gradual elimination of child labour, especially its worst forms, by 2025 with emphasis on a coordinated multi-stakeholder response that provide social protection to targeted children, their families and communities throughout the country.". To meet this goal, it follows some strategic priorities, including : Improving institutional building and capacity enhancement ; Strengthening inclusive and equitable quality human development services ; Strengthening social protection systems ; Develop decent work opportunities for adults and youth of legal working age ; Strengthening child protection intra- and inter-institutional coordination and collaboration mechanisms ; Strengthening and harmonizing the legislative and regulations framework that promote compliance with child protection public policy ; Strengthening child labour monitoring system ; Improve child labour awareness, knowledge and social mobilization. | [{"link_name":"NAP II","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/%40africa/%40ro-abidjan/%40ilo-lusaka/documents/publication/wcms_818216.pdf"}] | 2020-2025 | National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (NAP II) | Ministry of Labour and Social Security (multistakeholder child rights protection institutional framework) |