Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Guinea (Ratification: 2003)

Articles 6 and 7(2)(a) of the Convention. Programmes of action and effective and time-bound measures to prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. 1. Trafficking of children. Further to its previous comments, the Committee duly notes the Government’s indication in its report that a “Plan of Action against trafficking in persons and similar practices 2020–22” has been adopted and will be implemented by the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices (CNLTPPA). Moreover, it takes note of the new “Advocacy Plan of Action against trafficking in persons for forced labour abroad 2018–22”.

Furthermore, the Committee notes that the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in its concluding observations of 2020, states that trafficking in children remains a major problem and frequently goes unpunished (E/C.12/GIN/CO/1, paragraph 35). The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to combat the trafficking of children. It requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the “Plan of Action against trafficking in persons and similar practices 2020–22” and of the “Advocacy Plan of Action against trafficking in persons for forced labour abroad 2018–22”. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved, including on the elimination of the trafficking of children under 18 years of age for labour or sexual exploitation.

2. Ten-Year Action Plan. The Committee notes the publication by the African Union (AU) in April 2021 of the “Ten-Year Action Plan 2020–30” for achieving target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals, in the context of the AU Agenda 2063. The goal of the Plan is to put an end to all forms of child labour by 2025, and also put an end to forced labour, trafficking in persons and modern slavery by 2030. The objective of each government is to identify the elements of a plan of action and implement it through the mobilization of resources for actions to be undertaken, inter alia, at the national level. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in the context of the “Ten-Year Action Plan 2020–30” with regard to the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, and also on the results achieved.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Necessary and appropriate direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Children living or working on the streets. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Office for the Protection of Gender, Childhood and Morality (OPROGEM) is pursuing the implementation of various measures for the protection of children, including street children, with a view to removing them from the worst forms of child labour, including through an “Education for all” programme. The Committee also notes the Government’s statistics according to which OPROGEM recorded a total of 212 abandoned children in 2021.

However, the Committee also notes that the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), in its concluding observations of 2019, expressed concern at the significant numbers of street children and the limited programmes to protect their rights (CRC/C/GIN/CO/3-6, paragraph 43). Recalling that street children are particularly exposed to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken to protect and withdraw these children from the worst forms of labour, and on the results achieved in this respect.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. HIV/AIDS orphans. The Committee duly notes the priorities of the new “Strategic national framework to combat AIDS (CSN) 2018–22”, including the elimination by 2022 of new infections among children and the provision of quality medical, psychological and social care for at least 75 per cent of adults and children living with HIV/AIDS.

However, the Committee highlights the Government’s indication in its report that the implementation of Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) policy initiatives for combating HIV/AIDS in the workplace has been hampered by a lack of resources. Recalling that HIV/AIDS orphans are at a greater risk of becoming involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to ensure that these children are protected against the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to supply information on the results achieved in this regard, particularly in the context of the CSN 2018–22.

Article 8. . 1. Regional and international cooperation. Further to its previous comments, the Committee duly notes the bilateral agreement signed with Liberia on combating trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and also the forthcoming signature of an agreement with Sierra Leone.

The Committee also notes the measures planned by the Government under the agreements signed in the context of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the 2020–22 period, with a view to prohibiting and eliminating the worst forms of child labour, including: (i) adopting national action plans to combat child labour; (ii) reinforcing labour inspection; (iii) providing protection against unscrupulous recruitment; (iv) ensuring access to schooling; and (v) conducting awareness-raising activities for enterprises. The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labour, particularly the sale and trafficking of children for labour and sexual exploitation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken and the results achieved under the agreements signed in the context of ECOWAS for the 2020–22 period.

2. Poverty reduction. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the priorities of the DWCP 2016–19 are decent employment for young persons and women, particularly in the sectors of agriculture, mining and construction, and the strengthening of social dialogue, as a means of preventing crises.

The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the ILO carried out an evaluation mission in 2022 for the purposes of the final review of the implementation of the DWCP 2016–19. In this regard, the Government indicates a lack of resources for much of the operational programming of the DWCP, especially concerning measures to combat the worst forms of child labour.

Furthermore, the Committee highlights the fact that the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in its concluding observations of 2020, expressed concern at the high rates of poverty, particularly in rural areas and among women and children, despite the implementation of poverty reduction programmes (E/C.12/GIN/CO/1, paragraph 37).

Lastly, the Committee notes the absence of information on the application of measures taken in the context of the DWCP 2016–19, and on the results achieved in this respect. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of the final review of the implementation of the DWCP 2016–19 conducted by the ILO.