Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - North Macedonia (Ratification: 2002)

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. 1. Street children. The Committee previously noted the information from UNICEF that many street children were engaged in begging, and that these children were vulnerable to trafficking. The Committee noted that, according to data from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (MLSP), there were approximately 1,000 street children in the country, 95 per cent of whom were Roma, and that labour exploitation and begging contributed to this phenomenon. The Committee noted that, despite the Government’s measures, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), in its concluding observations of 23 June 2010, expressed deep concern regarding the growing number of street children and the absence of progress towards durable solutions to provide these children with protection, access to education and social reintegration (CRC/C/MKD/CO/2, paragraph 71).

The Committee notes the Government’s information regarding the new measures it adopted to protect street children. These measures include the expansion of the network of daily centres for street children, by opening a new centre in the municipality of Prilep in 2013, thereby extending the number of daily centres to four. The Government also indicates that, in 2012, a national SOS helpline was created in order to receive calls from citizens who want to report on street children. In addition, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that an action plan for children on the streets was adopted for the period of 2013–15 which includes concrete measures and activities in the areas of education and health protection, and aims to contribute to decreasing the harmful influence of the streets upon the development of these children. The Committee strongly encourages the Government to continue its efforts to protect street children from the worst forms of child labour and requests it to provide information on the number of children removed from the streets and who have benefited from rehabilitation and social integration measures.

2. Roma children. The Committee previously noted that school drop-out rates were significantly higher among Roma children. It noted, however, that the Government was participating in the Roma Inclusion Decade, through which it had taken several measures to reduce the school drop-out rate of Roma children. Moreover, the Committee noted that the Government was implementing a Roma student scholarship, mentoring and tutoring project that began in 2008.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that the MLSP is the coordinator for the Project of Inclusion of Roma Children in the public municipal institutions, kindergartens and preschool education. In this regard, the Government indicates that, in 2012–13, 425 Roma children were registered in kindergartens with state funding. Moreover, the Committee notes the Government’s information that, in the framework of the Roma student scholarship programmes, in 2011–12, there were 591 high-school scholarship recipients, and that only five students participating in this programme had dropped out of school. In 2012–13, 593 students participated in the scholarship and tutoring programmes.

However, the Committee notes that, in its concluding observations of 22 March 2013, the Committee on the Elimination and Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), expressed its concern about the lack of sufficient data disaggregated by sex and ethnicity allowing for the comparison of the educational attainment of girls in different ethnic communities. In this regard, the CEDAW reiterated its concern at the drop-out rates of Roma girls and noted the low number of Roma girls in higher education and the lack of measures taken to ensure their access to education. The CEDAW is further concerned that there is a disproportionately high number of Roma children, including girls, in schools for children with special needs (CEDAW/C/MKD/CO/4-5, paragraph 29). Taking due note of the measures taken by the Government, the Committee urges the Government to strengthen its efforts with regard to facilitating access to education for Roma students, particularly girls. It requests the Government to continue providing information on the results achieved, particularly with regard to increasing school enrolment rates and reducing school drop-out rates.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee previously noted that the CRC, in its concluding observations of 23 June 2010, expressed concern about weak implementation of child labour laws and policies, and the incidence of child labour in the informal economy, in particular begging and street vending (CRC/C/MKD/CO/2, paragraph 69).

The Committee observes that the Government does not provide information on this point in its report. The Committee, therefore, urges the Government to strengthen its efforts with regard to the prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. It once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken and the results achieved, particularly information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number of children protected by the measures giving effect to the Convention, the number and nature of the infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties applied. To the extent possible, all information provided should be disaggregated by sex and age.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.