Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Cambodia (Ratification: 1999)

Article 1 of the Convention. National policy and application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the large number of working children in the country, including in the informal sector, in agriculture and in the family context. It also noted that the Government’s national policy on non-formal education included working children as one of its primary targets. It strongly encouraged the Government to renew its efforts to progressively improve the situation.

The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training of the Royal Government of Cambodia (MoLVT–RGC) Strategic Plan. It further notes the Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations (CAMFEBA) Plan of Action on the Elimination of Child Labour (CAMFEBA–PAECL) in Cambodia (2012–16), which was established with ILO–IPEC assistance and, according to its terms, was developed based on existing governmental policies to reinforce and contribute to the Government’s objectives to reduce and eliminate child labour in the country by 2016. The Committee notes, in this connection, that the CAMFEBA–PAECL makes reference to the second phase of the National Plan of Action on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (2013–17), which aims to eliminate child labour in the country by 2016. The Committee also notes the ILO Decent Work Country Programme for Cambodia (2011–15) which prioritizes, among others, the effective progress made toward the elimination of child labour and to strengthen the capacity of national stakeholders. Finally, it notes the Government’s indication that 8,993 children, including 3,324 girls, were removed from child labour between June 2013 and July 2014.

The Committee notes the Government’s efforts to coordinate plans of action and cooperate with the social partners to eliminate child labour in the country. It further notes, however, that according to the Cambodia Labour Force and Child Labour Survey of 2012, of the estimated 755,245 economically active children in Cambodia, 56.9 per cent (429,380) were engaged in child labour contrary to the Convention, 55.1 per cent (236,498) of which were engaged in hazardous labour. Of those children engaged in hazardous labour, approximately 5.3 per cent were children aged 5–11 years, 15.8 per cent were children aged 12–14 years and 42 per cent were children aged 15–17 years. The Committee must express its concern over the significant number of children below the minimum age for admission to employment who are working in Cambodia, including in hazardous work. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to continue to strengthen its efforts, including within the framework of the National Plan of Action and the Decent Work Country Programme, to achieve its objective of eliminating child labour by 2016, particularly in hazardous work. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide updated statistical information on the employment of children and young persons, as well as any labour inspection reports.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.