Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Ethiopia (Ratification: 2003)

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action. The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that a new National Plan of Action (NPA) on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (2021–2025) has been adopted with an objective to fight and eliminate the worst forms of child labour by 2025, thus achieving target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). The development and implementation of this NPA will strengthen the coordination mechanism of pertinent stakeholders to work together on the three distinct strategies of prevention, protection and rehabilitation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken within the framework of the NPA 2021–2025 and on the results achieved, particularly with regard to the number of child victims of the worst forms of child labour reached through this Plan.

Article 7(2)(d) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. 1. Street children. The Committee previously noted that there are between 150,000 and 200,000 street children nationally, with a further 1 million children vulnerable or at risk of being on the street.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that within the framework of the National Plan of Action on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (2021–2025) tangible measures are initiated to address and improve the situation of street children in line with the urban safety net programme implementation. The Committee notes from the 2019 UNICEF Briefing Note on Situation and Access to Services of Homeless Children in Addis Ababa that according to a report by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in 2018, approximately 10,500 children were working and living in the streets in Addis Ababa. Recalling that street children are at particular risk of becoming involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to protect them from the worst forms of child labour and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard.

2. Children in difficult circumstances. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that even though efforts to combat the worst forms of child labour are underway, the war waged on the northern and eastern part of the country by the terrorist Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) destabilized the normal public service activities, destroyed thousands of health and school facilities and displaced millions of peoples especially women and children from their homes and livelihoods. There is a strong evidence that the conflict in these part of affected areas have pushed children into difficult circumstances. In this regard, the Committee notes from the UNICEF Humanitarian Situation Report of June 2022 that in 2022, multiple overlapping and recurring emergencies including conflict, insecurity, social tension, drought, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to affect over 29.7 million people throughout Ethiopia, of which 12.4 million are children across multiple regions. The Committee requests the Government to take effective and time-bound measures to improve the situation of children who are in difficult circumstances, particularly children in the war affected areas, and protect them from falling victims to the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and on the results achieved.