Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Trinidad and Tobago (Ratification: 1963)

In its previous comments the Committee noted that under section 11(2) of the Defence Act 1962, which corresponds to section 19(2) of the Defence Act, Chapter 14.01, a person below the age of 18 years may be enlisted with the consent of his parents, no minimum age being fixed for such enlistment.

The Committee notes that the Government refers to a previous report indicating that there were no measures taken to permit persons enlisted under that age to resign. The Government also states that the enlistment remains fixed at the age of 18 and that no recruitment under this age has taken place.

The Committee expresses the hope that the Government will examine measures either to permit persons enlisted under the age of 18 to resign from service within a reasonable period of time (such as is for example provided for the persons enlisted as cadets in the Cadet Force (Cadet Force regulations 25 and 27( or by amending section 11(2) of the Defence Act (respectively section 19(2) of the Defence Act, Chapter 14.01) by deleting the provision permitting enlistment under the age of 18. The latter solution would correspond to the practice as mentioned by the Government.

The Committee looks forward to any steps taken by the Government in this respect.