Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Bahamas (Ratification: 2001)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments initially made in 2016.

Repetition

Article 1 of the Convention. National policy. In its previous comments, the Committee expressed the hope that a national policy on child labour would be elaborated in the near future.

The Committee notes with regret an absence of information in the Government’s report on this matter. The Committee recalls that, under Article 1 of the Convention, each member for which this Convention is in force undertakes to pursue a national policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child labour and to raise progressively the minimum age for admission to employment or work to a level consistent with the fullest physical and mental development of young persons. The Committee therefore requests that the Government take the necessary measures to ensure that a national policy on child labour will be adopted without delay and to provide information on developments in this respect.

Article 2(1). Scope of application and labour inspection. The Committee previously observed that the minimum age for admission to employment, established under section 50(1) of the Employment Act 2001 only applies to formal undertakings whereas the majority of children work in the informal economy. In this regard, it noted the Government’s indication that it had initiated the process of hiring additional labour inspectors to conduct the requisite inspection of workplaces in which children may be engaged in labour. Noting the absence of information in the Government’s report on this point, the Committee requests that the Government provide information on the measures taken to adapt and strengthen the labour inspection services in order to ensure that the protection established by the Convention is secured for children working in all sectors, including children working on their own account or in the informal economy.

Article 2(2) and (3). Raising the minimum age for admission to employment or work and the age of completion of compulsory schooling. The Committee previously noted that the minimum age for admission to employment or work specified by the Bahamas at the time of ratification was 14 years. It also noted that section 7(2) of the Child Protection Act establishes a minimum age of 16 years for admission to employment or work. Furthermore, the Committee noted that, by virtue of section 22(3) of the Education Act, the age of completion of compulsory schooling is 16 years. Noting the absence of information in the Government’s report, the Committee once again requests that the Government indicate whether it intends to raise the minimum age for admission to employment or work from 14 years (initially specified) to 16 years in accordance with the Child Protection Act and in accordance with the age of completion of compulsory schooling under the Education Act. If so, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the provisions of Article 2(2) of the Convention, which provides that any Member having ratified this Convention may subsequently notify the Director-General of the International Labour Office, by a new declaration, that it has raised the minimum age that it had previously specified. The Committee requests that the Government would consider the possibility of sending a declaration of this nature to the Office.

Article 3(2). Determination of types of hazardous work. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that a delegation from the Bahamas attended the ILO Subregional Workshop on the Elimination of Hazardous Child Labour for Select Caribbean Countries in October 2011 which aimed to enhance skills for the preparation of a list of hazardous work through internal consultations and collaboration.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that draft regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act, which include provisions determining the types of hazardous work prohibited for persons under 18 years of age, have been approved by the tripartite social partners. The Committee expresses the firm hope that the draft regulations on the list of types of hazardous work prohibited for persons under the age of 18 years will be adopted in the near future. It requests that the Government provide information on any progress made in this regard as well as to supply a copy of the list, once it has been adopted.

Article 7. Light work. The Committee previously noted that section 7(3)(a) of the Child Protection Act provides that a child under the age of 16 may be employed by the child’s parents or guardian in light domestic, agricultural or horticultural work. The Committee noted the Government’s indication that it would undertake to provide information to the Committee on the measures taken or envisaged in respect of provisions or regulations which would determine light work activities and the conditions in which such employment or work may be undertaken by young persons from the age of 12 years.

The Committee notes with regret that despite its raising this issue since 2004, the Government has not provided any information on the measures taken or envisaged in this regard. The Committee recalls that Article 7(1) and (4) of the Convention provides that national laws or regulations may permit persons from the age of 12 to engage in light work, which is: (a) not likely to be harmful to their health and development; (b) not such as to prejudice their attendance at school, their participation in vocational orientation or training programmes approved by the competent authority or their capacity to benefit from the instruction received. The Committee also recalls that according to Article 7(3) of the Convention, the competent authority shall determine what constitutes light work and shall prescribe the number of hours during which, and the conditions in which, such employment or work may be undertaken. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures without delay to bring the national legislation in line with the Convention by determining the light work activities that may be permitted to children of 12 years and above and the conditions in which such employment or work may be undertaken by them. It requests that the Government provide information on any progress made in this regard.

Application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee requested that the Government provide information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice. Noting the absence of information on this point in the Government’s report, the Committee once again requests that it provide information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including, for example, statistical data on the employment of children and young persons, especially regarding children working in the informal economy, as well as extracts from the reports of inspection services and information on the number and nature of contraventions reported and penalties applied. To the extent possible, this information should be disaggregated by age and sex.

The Committee hope that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.