Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Mali (Ratification: 2000)

Article 5 of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms. Labour inspection. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee once again notes that the Government has provided detailed information on the inspections carried out by labour inspectors and the violations reported, particularly with regard to dismissals, employment accidents and violations of labour contracts. However, the Committee once again notes with regret that the Government has not provided any information on the violations reported by labour inspectors relating to the worst forms of child labour. It therefore once again urges the Government to provide extracts from labour inspection reports concerning the worst forms of child labour in the very near future.

System for the observation and monitoring of child labour in Mali (SOSTEM) and the National Cell to Combat Child Labour (CNLTE). The Committee noted previously that, in the context of the Time-bound Programme (TBP), launched in Mali in 2006, SOSTEM was established in support of the initiatives already being implemented by ILO–IPEC in support of the Government and the social partners to achieve a better understanding of the phenomenon of child labour and its worst forms. The main emphasis of SOSTEM is on monitoring the conditions and places in which hazardous types of work are performed, the removal of children involved in hazardous types of work and the elimination of the dangers to which they are exposed.

The Committee notes that, according to the information available to ILO–IPEC, the findings of the supervision carried out by SOSTEM were officially forwarded to the Government in May 2010 through the CNLTE. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that the CNLTE is a structure established by Ordinance No. 10-036/P-RM of 5 August 2010 and approved by Act No. 10-050 of 23 December 2010. The CNLTE is now responsible for collecting information on child labour, assessing the working conditions of children, establishing and updating a database on child labour, reinforcing the capacities of the various actors and disseminating an annual national report on child labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities carried out by the CNLTE for the benefit of children engaged in the worst forms of child labour.

Article 6. Programmes of action. National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Child Labour in Mali (PANETEM). Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the technical validation of PANETEM at the national level took place in April 2010 and that it was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 8 June 2011. The PANETEM covers a period of ten years spread over two phases: the first five-year phase (2011–15) focusing on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour (60 per cent of the targeted children) and the second five-year phase (2016–20) focusing on the abolition of all unauthorized forms of child labour (40 per cent of the targeted children). The Committee notes that the PANETEM is intended to benefit 2,450,729 children between the ages of 5 and 17 years engaged in hazardous types of work, including 1,308,999 girls and 1,141,730 boys, as well as 816,910 households in which children are at risk of or are victims of the worst forms of child labour. Implementation will be the responsibility of the National Commission to Monitor the Formulation of the PANETEM (CNSE).

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a) and (b). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour and their removal from the worst forms of child labour. PANETEM. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that Mali had launched the TBP on the worst forms of child labour in collaboration with ILO–IPEC, with the main sectors of intervention being mines and quarries, agriculture and craft industries, the sexual exploitation of children, the urban informal economy and domestic work.

The Committee notes that the implementation of the TBP ended in 2010. It notes with interest the Government’s indications that the TBP enabled protection to be provided to over 10,000 children against the worst forms of child labour. Accordingly, 6,885 children (3,866 girls and 3,019 boys) were prevented from becoming engaged in these worst forms of child labour, of whom 170 (41 girls and 129 boys) were at risk of becoming victims of trafficking and 1,227 (854 girls and 373 boys) were at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Furthermore, 3,726 children (2,236 girls and 1,490 boys) were removed from these worst forms of child labour, of whom 354 (259 girls and 95 boys) were victims of trafficking and 366 girls were victims of commercial sexual exploitation. The Committee notes that the PANETEM envisages the implementation of direct action to combat the worst forms of child labour in the following sectors and transversal fields: agriculture, stock-raising, fishing and agro-forestry; craftwork, tourism and hotels; traditional gold-panning and artisanal quarries; domestic work; the urban informal economy; the commercial sexual exploitation of children; and trafficking of children. The Committee firmly encourages the Government to continue its efforts and requests it to continue providing information on the time-bound measures adopted within the context of the PANETEM for the provision of the necessary and appropriate direct assistance to prevent children from becoming engaged in the worst forms of child labour and to remove children under 18 years of age from the worst forms of child labour, and ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information in this respect, including the number of children benefiting from the measures adopted in the context of the implementation of the PANETEM.

Children engaged in traditional gold-panning and artisanal quarries. The Committee notes the cross-border study on child labour in gold-panning in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of March 2010 undertaken in collaboration with ILO–IPEC. According to the section on Mali, child labour in gold-panning exists, with children aged between 5 and 17 years being involved in all types of gold-panning activities. Two-thirds of these children, as many of whom are girls as boys, are in a situation of migration for various reasons. Furthermore, 42.7 per cent of the children who participated in the study indicated that they had witnessed an accident of which a child was the victim, and nearly one child out of five (18.6 per cent) indicated that they themselves had been victims of an accident. The Committee also notes that 37.3 per cent of the children say that they have experienced health problems (digestive, respiratory and in their joints) due to their work on gold-panning sites. Only 30.9 per cent of the children questioned attended a formal or non-formal school at the time of the study and, in general, very few children who live in mining villages went to school.

The Committee notes the Government’s indications that an ILO–IPEC project for the prevention and elimination of child labour in West Africa (AECID) was launched in August 2010, is currently being implemented and is in the phase of the identification of the 1,000 children who are to benefit from the project in the traditional gold-panning sector in Sikasso. The Committee also notes that, in the context of the implementation of the ILO–IPEC project entitled “Tackling child labour through education” (TACKLE), a programme of action to combat child labour in 11 countries through education in the traditional gold-panning sector in Kayes has also been initiated targeting prevention for 1,210 children between the ages of 3 and 14 years and the removal of 150 children between the ages of 10 and 17 years. The Committee also notes that, in the context of the PANETEM, traditional gold-panning and artisanal quarries are one of the sectors covered and that activities are to be undertaken with a view to the removal and reintegration of child victims. The Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour in traditional gold-panning and artisanal quarries. It also requests it to provide information on the number of children who are in practice prevented from being engaged in or removed from this worst form of child labour as a result of the measures adopted in the context of the AECID and TACKLE projects, and the PANETEM.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. HIV/AIDS orphans (OVC). The Committee previously noted that the National Strategic Framework 2006–10 (CSN) proposes multiple forms of intervention, associating measures to combat AIDS with democratic and sustainable development and emphasizing, in particular, an integrated strategic approach.

The Committee observes that, in the context of the PANETEM, it is planned to organize vaccination campaigns and communication to change behaviour in relation to HIV/AIDS. However, the Committee also notes that, according to the annual UNGASS report for 2010, there are 63,126 children aged between 0 and 17 years who are HIV/AIDS orphans. However, the percentage of orphans and vulnerable children (0–17 years) living in care centres and receiving free external assistance to cover their costs is only 16.81 per cent, corresponding to 10,614 OVCs. Recalling that OVCs are at greater risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to adopt effective measures without delay, particularly in the context of the PANETEM, to ensure that these children are protected from the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to provide information on the specific measures adopted in this respect and the results achieved, particularly with regard to the proportion of households including OVCs and other vulnerable children who are benefiting from assistance services and allowances.

Clause (e). Special situation of girls. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the PANETEM would provide the Government with a good opportunity to determine time-bound objectives while taking into account the special situation of girls, and particularly those engaged in domestic work, who are often victims of very diverse forms of exploitation, and it is difficult to supervise their working conditions due to the clandestine nature of the work.

The Committee notes that domestic work is one of the sectors targeted by the PANETEM. The planned activities include carrying out a socio-demographic survey, the establishment of socio-educational centres for household helps and the removal and reintegration of child victims of the worst forms of child labour in the domestic sector. The Committee requests the Government to provide information and the results achieved following the implementation of the measures envisaged by the PANETEM in terms of the number of girls engaged in domestic work who have been protected against economic and sexual exploitation.

Article 8. Poverty reduction. The Committee previously noted that a Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Framework (GPRSF), covering the period 2007–11, was being implemented. The Committee also noted that a National Action Programme for Employment to Reduce Poverty (PNA/ERP) had been formulated and that a Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) was being prepared.

The Committee notes that the PANETEM will be integrated into the main strategic objectives of the GPRSF and the Millennium Development Goals, and that the PANETEM is one of the practical arms of the child protection policy in Mali. The Committee further notes that, according to the annual report of the National Directorate of Labour of 2010, a draft DWCP for the years 2011–14 has been prepared in collaboration with the ILO and that its objectives are to promote decent work for young persons through strong and lasting growth, to reinforce and extend social protection for all and to contribute to the progressive achievement of decent work through dynamic social dialogue. The operational plan for the implementation of this Programme is currently under preparation. Considering that poverty reduction programmes contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted in the context of the PANETEM and the DWCP for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, and particularly for the effective reduction of poverty among child victims of sale, trafficking and forced begging.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the following studies were being undertaken: (a) a study on the exploitation of child beggars in Mali; and (b) a study on gender-related issues affecting children, child labour and the worst forms of child labour in mines and quarries: the case of Mali.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information in its report in relation to these studies. The Committee urges the Government to communicate the findings of the studies on the worst forms of child labour referred to above. The Committee also requests the Government to provide statistical data on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, as well as information on the number and nature of the infringements reported, investigations, convictions, prosecutions and penal sanctions applied. To the extent possible, all information provided should be disaggregated by sex and age.