Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1987)

With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the ample information submitted with the Government's report concerning the national policy aiming at the abolition of child labour, and a wide variety of economic and social measures taken in relation to such policy. For instance, the IXth National Plan, which is a principal document of public policies and programmes, includes provisions on the promotion of participation of civil society in the protection and socialization of childhood and adolescence, special programmes aimed at the reinsertion of those who have been excluded from the education system, creation of a Social Network for Protection of Childhood and Adolescence, widening and diversification of services offered by the National Institution of Minors (INAM) for children and adolescents in especially difficult circumstances. The problem of child labour is also treated in the Intersectoral Plan of Attention to Childhood and Adolescence, including among the concrete objectives, the introduction of a system of registering children and young persons who are working, and the eradication in seven years of work by children under 12 years of age. Decree No. 1366 of 12 June 1996 establishes a programme of family subsidy, beneficiaries of which include families with low income with children receiving basic education (1st to 6th grade). Documents called "Agenda Venezuela" also contain various social measures to mitigate the effects of the macroeconomic adjustment programme.

The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on measures relevant to the effective abolition of child labour, and also to include statistics and extracts from reports of inspection which would help the appreciation of the application of the Convention in practice.