Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Zambia (Ratification: 1976)

With reference to its previous general observation, the Committee notes with interest the Government's statement in the report that its policy is to proscribe child labour completely by offering compulsory primary education from grade one to nine, i.e. from the age of seven to 16. It would be grateful if the Government would supply statutory provisions concerning such compulsory schooling as well as information on the application in practice of such provisions inasmuch as it relates to the application of the Convention.

The Committee also notes with interest the 1996 report of the Committee on Women, Youth and Child Development submitted to the National Assembly. This report includes accounts of various social policies and actions taken either by the Government or by other bodies, such as the policy and measures regarding street children (paragraphs 6 and 7), the policy of the Ministry of Education aimed at ensuring access for every child to nine years of good quality education by the year 2015 (paragraph 10). The Committee also notes that a child development policy supplemented by a national programme of action for children has been formulated. It requests the Government to include in its report information on further developments in the activities of this committee and in the implementation of the above-mentioned policy and programme in so far as they have relevance to the application of the Convention, and in particular to the policy of effective abolition of child labour under Article 1 of the Convention.

The Committee further notes that the above committee recommended that the Government should proceed to hold consultations with a view to ratifying, among others, the Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 19l9 (No. 6). Recalling that the protection of young workers from night work would reinforce the implementation of Article 3 of the Convention concerning the protection of children under 18 years from hazardous work, the Committee asks the Government to supply information on the developments in this regard.

A direct request concerning certain points is also being addressed to the Government.