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

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

Article 2(3) of the Convention. Age of completion of compulsory schooling. The Committee previously noted that, pursuant to section 76(1) of the Education Act of 1966, compulsory schooling took place between the ages of 6 and 12 years. The Committee emphasized the desirability of linking the age of completion of compulsory schooling to the age of admission to employment (16 years). The Committee noted the Government’s statement that the draft of the Children’s Bill included amendments to the Education Act. In this regard, the Committee noted that the draft Children’s Bill sought to amend section 76(1) of the Education Act to define the period of compulsory schooling as between the ages of 5 and 16 years. The Committee also noted the Government’s indication that the Children’s Act, 2012, including this amendment, would only become effective once proclaimed on the date fixed by the President, in accordance with section 1(2) of the Act.

The Committee notes with satisfaction that Schedule 3 of the Children’s Act, 2012, which was proclaimed on 15 May 2015, has amended section 76(1) of the Education Act so as to raise the age of completion of compulsory education to 16, in line with the age of admission to employment or work. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on the application in practice of section 76(1) of the Education Act, including updated statistics on school enrolment rates and drop-out rates of children below the age of 16 years.

Article 3(1) and (2). Minimum age for admission to, and determination of, hazardous work. With regard to the list of hazardous types of work prohibited to children under 18 years of age, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182).

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