Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Trinidad and Tobago (Ratification: 2004)

Article 1 of the Convention. National policy. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that a National Strategic Plan for Child Development was adopted which identifies five key national priorities, including securing a nurturing environment for all children and protecting them from all forms of abuse, discrimination and exploitation.

The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report that it remains committed to the prevention and elimination of child labour. In 2014, it joined the Regional Initiative – Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour which is a commitment among countries in the region to accelerate the pace of prevention and elimination of child labour. Under the framework of the Regional Initiative, Trinidad and Tobago is currently benefiting from support from the ILO and the Government of Brazil in the area of enhancing the school-to-work transition for the elimination of child labour.

The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the National Strategic Plan for Child Development forms an integral part of the child protection framework in Trinidad and Tobago, and is overseen by the Gender and Child Affairs Division of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). To date, and in keeping with this Plan, the Government has undertaken to develop a National Child Policy which aims to deal with a myriad of issues faced by children and those charged with protecting their interests. In the development of the National Child Policy, the issues of the prevention and elimination of child labour are expected to be addressed and approached in a manner that includes all stakeholders. In this regard, the Gender and Child Affairs Division of the OPM has engaged with the public on this matter, with the support of the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development (MLSED) and in conjunction with the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to finalize the National Child Policy and to provide a copy of this policy, once completed. The Committee also requests that the Government provide information on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Child Development and results achieved in terms of eliminating child labour.

Labour inspectorate and application of the Convention in practice. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that labour inspectors continue to monitor child labour and the employment of young people through inspection visits. Furthermore, the Labour Inspectorate Unit of the MLSED has developed a brochure highlighting the issue of child labour and the employment of young people which has been distributed to stakeholders through a public awareness campaign. In 2015, the MLSED did not receive any reports of child labour during this period. In addition, labour inspectors found no instances of child labour during their inspections. It is envisioned that participation in the activities of the Regional Initiative – Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour would be able to provide updated preliminary information on the situation of children in employment in Trinidad and Tobago. The Committee encourages the Government to take measures to ensure that sufficient data on the situation of working children in Trinidad and Tobago is made available, such as information on the number of children working below the minimum age, and the nature, scope and trends of their work. It requests that the Government provide this information when it becomes available.