Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

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

The Committee notes the observations of the General Confederation of Labour of the Argentine Republic (CGT RA) and the Confederation of Workers of Argentina (CTA Autonomous), received on 27 August and 3 September 2024, respectively. The Committee requests the Government to provide its replies in this respect.

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (d). Hazardous work. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates, in its report, that the Inspectorate for Work by Children and Young Persons and Evidence of Labour Exploitation (DITIAIEL) and the Child Labour Observatory drew up a proposal to update the list contained in Decree No. 1117/16 on the types of work, activities, occupations and tasks that constitute hazardous work for persons under 18 years of age.

The Committee notes that, in their observations, CTA Autonomous and the CGT RA indicate that child labour persists in two sectors of agricultural activity (yerba mate (tareferos) and tobacco harvesting) and in which children are exposed to toxic chemicals, work long hours and endure extreme weather conditions, putting their health at risk in the short and long term. The Committee requests the Government to: (i) take all necessary measures to ensure that the legislation on hazardous work is applied effectively to ensure that no child or young person under 18 years is engaged in types of work which, by their nature or the circumstances in which they are carried out, are likely to harm their health, safety or morals; (ii) indicate whether it has received complaints or has detected violations to Decree No. 1117/16, whether penalties have been imposed in such cases, and in case of fines, how many were effectively paid; (iii) provide information on progress regarding the proposal to amend the above Decree; and (iv) investigate the allegations presented by the CGT RA and CTA Autonomous, and provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 3(c) and 7(2)(a) and (b). Worst forms of child labour and effective and time-bound measures. Prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour and provide the necessary and appropriate direct assistance to remove them from the worst forms of child labour, and ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. Use, procuring or offering a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. The Committee notes that the CGT RA indicates that: (1) there is evidence confirming the increase in drug trafficking in the country and the increase in the number of children and young persons who are recruited by drug-trafficking networks to carry out tasks on the lowest rung of the drug-dealing pyramid; and (2) both boys and girls are commonly used for sexual exploitation. The Committee requests the Government to investigate the allegations presented by the CGT RA and to provide its comments in this respect.

Clause (e). Special situation of girls. With respect to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that, under the MERCOSUR regional programme for the prevention and elimination of child labour, the Common Market Council adopted the Recommendation for the prevention and elimination of child domestic labour (Rec. CMC 1/15).

The Committee also notes that CTA Autonomous, with reference to the Child Labour Indicator Survey (2017–22) of the Argentine Social Debt Observatory (ODSA), observes that, in 2022, 6.9 of children were engaged in intensive domestic labour. The Committee notes that, according to ODSA figures, the rate of children engaged in intensive domestic labour fell to 5.2 per cent in 2023. The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts and to provide information on the measures taken to pay special attention to girls engaged in intensive domestic care work with a view to preventing them from becoming victims of the worst forms of child labour, and the results thereof. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the Recommendation for the prevention and elimination of child domestic labour (Rec. CMC 1/15).

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