Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Sri Lanka (Ratification: 2001)

Article 3, clause (d), and Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Hazardous work. The Committee had previously noted the Government’s information that section 20A of the Employment of Women, Young Persons, and Children Act, as amended by the Employment of Women, Young Persons, and Children (Amendment) Act No. 24 of 2006 (EWYPC Amendment Act of 2006), provides that no person under the age of 18 years shall be employed in any hazardous occupation. Section 20A of the Act also provides that hazardous occupations in which persons under 18 years are prohibited to work shall be prescribed by the Minister taking into consideration the nature or the circumstances in which the occupation is being carried out and the harm that may be caused as a result thereof to the health, safety or morals of children. The Committee had also noted the Government’s indication that the list of types of hazardous work was in the process of being finalized and would be presented to the Parliament for approval. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that this list is currently being revised by a tripartite steering committee, following the observations made by the representatives of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC). The Government further states that this list shall come into force when it is gazetted in the Government Gazette as Regulations under section 20A of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act and after adoption by the Parliament. The Committee expresses the firm hope that the list containing the types of hazardous work prohibited to children under 18 years will be adopted in the near future and requests the Government to supply a copy thereof as soon as it has been adopted.

Article 7, paragraph 2. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee had previously noted that the National Plan of Action for the Children of Sri Lanka 2004-08 (NPA 2004-08) seeks to ensure that 90 per cent of children complete primary education. It had also noted that the NPA 2004–08 provides for the following educational objectives: (a) to ensure the full participation of children in primary (5–9 years) and secondary education (9–14 years) through the enforcement of compulsory education regulations; and (b) to ensure that out-of-school youth in the compulsory education age group (5–14 years) receive functional literacy through appropriate alternate learning situations and vocational training programmes. Educational measures provided under the NPA 2004–08 also include monitoring attendance at school and development of schools in disadvantaged locations. The Committee notes the Government’s information that Sri Lanka has creditable achievements in the education sector such as school enrolment, literacy and gender equity, and that education reforms based on improvement in the quality of education and providing education for all are being implemented since 1999. However, noting the absence of information in the Government’s report, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide updated statistical data on school enrolment and dropout rates.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee had previously noted the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Labour Relations and Manpower had asked for technical assistance from
ILO–IPEC for undertaking a child labour survey in the latter half of 2007. It had also noted that the ILO–IPEC Steering Committee had approved this survey which was proposed to be conducted through the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS). The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the DCS has already completed collection of data and is currently in the process of tabulating the data and preparing the report. The Committee requests the Government to supply a copy of the Child Labour Survey Report, as soon as it becomes available. It also requests the Government to provide statistical information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number of children covered by the measures giving effect to the Convention, the number and nature of infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions applied.