Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - United Arab Emirates (Ratification: 1982)

Article 1(1) and Article 25 of the Convention. Work by children as camel jockeys. Referring to its observation made under Convention No. 138, also ratified by the United Arab Emirates, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous observation under this Convention, as well as to the comments made in 2000 and 2001 by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). According to the ICFTU’s comments, which referred to the information received from Anti-Slavery International, numerous young boys of 5 or 6 years of age were being trafficked (kidnapped, sold by their parents or taken under false pretences) to the United Arab Emirates to be used as jockeys in camel races. The boys were often mistreated, underfed and subjected to severe diets before races so as to be as light as possible. The comments emphasized that the children were separated from their families and thus completely dependent on their employers and de facto coerced into working.

The Government stated in its reply received in October 2001 that the ICFTU’s comments referred to separate incidents and events that took place in 1997-99, and pointed out that the employment of children under the age of 15 is a clear violation of section 20 of the Federal Labour Code No. 8 of 1980 and that current laws prohibit the buying of children, their exploitation or mishandling (sections 346 and 350 of the Federal Penal Code of 1987).

In its latest report received in August 2002, the Government indicates that, according to the investigations carried out by the police, this phenomenon is somewhat limited and cannot be considered as an indicator of existing widespread practices in the country. According to a memorandum from the Dubai Police General HQ, communicated by the Government in January 2002, the investigations indicated that the children brought to the country to work as camel jockeys were under the tutelage of their parents who put them into employment without the authorities’ knowledge, for the sake of quick material gain. The police further indicated that those parents whose responsibility was proven had been referred to the public prosecution for their trial. The Government also indicates in its latest report that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has promulgated an Order dated 29 July 2002, by virtue of which a child under the age of 15 years and whose weight is under 45 kg shall not be employed in camel racing, violations of this Order being punishable with a fine, prohibition to participate in a race for one year and imprisonment.

The Committee notes these indications. It also notes a new communication received from the ICFTU on 11 September 2002, which was transmitted to the Government on 2 October 2002 for such comments as might be considered appropriate. This communication contains information on recent cases in which children under 15 have been used as camel jockeys in the UAE. It also contains a reference to the US Department of State’s country report on human rights practices in the UAE for 2001, which states that there continue to be credible reports that hundreds of under-age boys from South Asia, mainly between 4 and 10 years of age, continue to be used as camel jockeys, and that camel owners who employ the children are not prosecuted for violation of labour laws.

The Committee hopes that the Government will supply its comments on the above communication by the ICFTU, so that the Committee could examine them at its next session. It also requests the Government once again to provide information in reply to its 2000 general observation under the Convention, and in particular, information on measures designed to strengthen the active investigation of organized crime with regard to trafficking in persons, including international cooperation between law enforcement agencies with a view to preventing and combating the trafficking in persons.

The Committee trusts that the Government will take without delay all the necessary measures, in cooperation with the other governments concerned, to eradicate the trafficking in children for use as camel jockeys and to punish those responsible through the strict enforcement of adequate penal sanctions. It requests the Government to provide, in its next report, full information on the action taken, including information on legal proceedings instituted against those involved in trafficking and on any penalties imposed.