Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

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

Article 4(3) of the Convention. Periodic examination of the list of hazardous work. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that a revision of the list of types of hazardous work was being contemplated under the Project on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Zimbabwe (WFCL Project), but that the revision of this list was envisaged to take place under phase II of the WFCL Project.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, while it has not received support with regard to the implementation of phase II of the WFCL Project, it is initiating consultations in order to elaborate a new list of types of hazardous work. Observing that the Government has been referring to the imminent revision of the list of types of hazardous work since 2003, the Committee once again strongly urges the Government to strengthen its efforts to ensure the appropriate examination and revision of the list of types of hazardous work prohibited for persons under 18 years of age, in consultation with the organizations of employers and workers concerned.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. The Committee previously noted the contention of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) that the relevant enforcement mechanisms needed to be enhanced, and that, while many of the legal provisions on the worst forms of child labour were sufficiently up to date, they lacked enforcement. The Committee noted the Government’s statement that efforts were being made to strengthen labour inspections so as to identify and deal with incidents of child labour. The Government indicated that it would take measures to ensure that the provisions giving effect to the Convention were adequately enforced. The Government indicated that it remained committed to eliminating the worst forms of child labour through various child protection strategies which were already in place, and that it planned to set aside resources within the 2012–13 national budget to start key initiatives within the phase II of the WFCL Project.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that it is currently working on enhancing the work of the labour inspectors through a consultative process that should culminate in the development of a training manual and ethical code of practice for labour inspectors. However, the Committee observes that phase II of the WFCL Project has yet to be implemented. The Committee expresses its deep concern at reports of the weak enforcement of provisions giving effect to the Convention. The Committee once again urges the Government to strengthen its efforts to combat the worst forms of child labour, including through strengthened enforcement of the relevant legislative provisions and measures to address the root causes of this phenomenon. The Committee also requests the Government to take the necessary measures, including through the allocation of resources, to ensure the implementation of phase II of the WFCL Project.

Article 7(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 previously noted that Zimbabwe faced a decline in its net enrolment and completion rates of primary education, due to ongoing socio-economic challenges. The Committee also noted the ZCTU’s contention that school drop-outs are a common phenomenon in Zimbabwe. The Committee noted the Government’s statement that it was taking steps towards the attainment of universal primary education. The Government indicated that it was envisaging several measures in this regard, including reintroducing free primary education, providing school lunches, improving the quality of education and ensuring a predictable and adequate state budget for education. The Government also indicated that it waived tuition fees for children enrolled in rural schools, and that only levies were charged for these children. However, the Committee also noted that, according to the UNESCO “Education for All Global Monitoring Report” of 2011, there remained 224,000 out-of-school children between the ages of 6 and 12.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that it is continuing to enhance its support to the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) and taking several initiatives to address the financial barriers to education, in order to increase school attendance and reduce school drop-out rates. However, according to the 2011 Child Labour Survey Report of the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, approximately 146,020 children (3.59 per cent; 1.91 per cent male and 1.68 per cent female) of children aged 5 to 17 years had never been to school, and 400,640 (9.85 per cent; 4.69 per cent male and 5.12 per cent female) had left school. Considering that education contributes to preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to strengthen its efforts, through the BEAM or otherwise, to ensure access to free basic education to all children in Zimbabwe. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on concrete measures taken in this regard, particularly with respect to addressing the financial barriers to education, with a view to increasing school attendance rates and reducing drop-out rates.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. Street children. The Committee previously noted that there were approximately 5,000 street children in Harare, the majority of whom were boys between the ages of 14 and 18, that this number was increasing, and that 63 per cent of these children were orphans. The Rapid Assessment Survey indicated that begging was the source of livelihood for 45 per cent of these children. The Committee noted the Government’s indication that it put in place the Street Children Fund (SCF), which supports the reintegration of street children with their families to ensure that this process is smooth and sustainable.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in 2011 and 2012, the SCF assisted 300 and 264 children respectively. The Committee urges the Government to pursue its efforts to protect children under 18 years of age living and working on the streets from the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the results achieved in this regard, within the framework of the SCF.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee takes note of the 2011 Child Labour Survey Report and of the statistics therein. However, it observes that there does not appear to be clear data on the number of children under 18 years of age who are engaged in the worst forms of child labour, including hazardous work. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour in Zimbabwe, particularly with regard to hazardous work, complemented by disaggregated data.