Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Bahamas (Ratification: 2001)

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Article 4(1) of the Convention. Determination of hazardous work. With regard to the adoption of the list of hazardous types of work prohibited to children under the age of 18 years, the Committee requests the Government to refer to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

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 direct assistance for their removal from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Child sex tourism. In response to the Committee’s previous comment noting the lack of awareness-raising activities among the actors directly related to the tourism industry in relation to children, and particularly girls, engaged in sexual exploitation in the tourism sector, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Tourism has been given the mandate of disbursing training and information to prevent commercial sexual exploitation in the tourism sector. In particular, the Ministry of Tourism works with other governmental departments to raise awareness on human trafficking and, along with the Ministry of Immigration, monitors 29 ports of entry. Public awareness efforts are also currently being exercised through anti-trafficking campaigns by the use of posters at all ports of entry, conducting training sessions with Foreign Affairs, hotels, other tourism-related businesses, NGOs and the public in general. The Government further indicates that measures to ensure the detection, prevention and remediation of children engaged in child labour and its worst forms in the tourism sector are included in the 2021 National Policy for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour (NCLP). The Committee requests the Government to continue taking the necessary measures, including awareness-raising measures, to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children and to provide information on their impact. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of child victims of sexual exploitation in the tourism sector who have been removed from this situation and given appropriate protection through rehabilitation and social integration measures.

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