Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

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

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. In its previous comments the Committee noted that, despite the Government’s efforts to improve the school attendance rate, the percentage of children had increased in secondary school, but remained low. The Committee requested the Government to continue taking the necessary measures to improve the school attendance and completion rates, while giving particular emphasis to inequalities in access to education related to gender and regional disparities. It also requested the Government to provide information on the results achieved, disaggregated by age and gender.

The Committee takes due note of the statistical information provided in the Government’s report which indicates that there was an increase in school attendance in 2017. The Committee also notes that, in the context of the measures adopted by the Government to improve school attendance and completion rates, while giving special emphasis to inequalities, the “Love” programme resulted in the integration in school of 19,665 girls, boys and young persons in 2017, and the promotion of 18,000 students to higher levels.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that girls, boys and young persons in a difficult situation or a situation of inequality are provided with support by educational centres through an early warning system, which facilitates the support and care provided to them. Similarly, the centres offer a prevention service for situations of vulnerability, such as early pregnancy for young girls, gender and other types of discrimination.

The Committee notes the awareness-raising activities described in the Government’s report, including: (i) the launching of a day for the “Promotion of values”, which benefitted from the participation of 6,677 education centres and 777,047 stakeholders from the education community; (ii) the training of 14,618 school security brigades with the participation of 147,520 students, parents and teachers; and (iii) weekly meetings on “Growing up with values”, which benefited 823,786 students and 34,648 teachers in 7,976 education centres in the country. It also notes an activity which, according to the Government, had a major impact on the education community, namely the “questions letterbox and messages board”. This activity allowed the early detection of certain situations of difficulty among students. The Committee further notes that the Government reinforced the promotion of values and the prevention of situations of risk among children through the creation of an educational game application “Valopis” which, according to the Government, reinforced the solidarity among students through play. While taking due note of the measures taken by the Government to improve the operation of the education system, the Committee encourages it to pursue its efforts to facilitate the access to education of all children, and particularly girls. It also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved, disaggregated by age, gender and region.

Clause(b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Hazardous labour in agriculture. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the specific results achieved under the various programmes aimed at removing children and young persons from hazardous types of work in agriculture and on the measures taken to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the action it has taken for the prevention of child labour in various economic sectors including: 5,998 agreements concluded between employers and the Government and special visits to 1,801 workplaces with a view to providing information to 2,815 young persons on abuses at the workplace. Nevertheless the Committee notes that the Government has not provided information on the specific measures taken in the agricultural sector. While taking due note of the measures taken by the Government, the Committee encourages it to continue its efforts and requests it once again to provide information on specific results achieved through programmes to remove children and young persons from hazardous work in the agricultural sector and on the measures taken to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration.

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