Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

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

Article 6 of the Convention. Plan of action and application of the Convention in practice. National strategy to combat the worst forms of child labour. Further to its previous comments, the Committee takes due note of the Government’s information in its report relating to the “National strategy to combat the worst forms of child labour 2019–23” (SN-PFTE). The Government highlights the following results: (i) the translation into five local languages of the decree prohibiting hazardous work for children, and the adoption of Order No. 2023-095/MFPTPS/SG/DGPS of 31 August 2023 establishing conditions for light work; (ii) several training sessions for journalists, judicial officials and representatives of the administrative, traditional and religious authorities on the legislation relating to child labour. In addition, 150 stakeholders involved in child protection have been trained with regard to the prevention of economic and sexual exploitation; (iii) 52,594 patrols and 1,109 inspections of high-risk workplaces have been carried out and 48 networks and 55 community units for child protection have been set up; (iv) 14,786 children have been removed from the worst forms of child labour and been provided with care; and (v) 4,254 children have been reintegrated in their families and 1,301 child victims of trafficking have been repatriated. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to combat the worst forms of child labour. It also requests the Government to continue providing information on the results achieved, the difficulties encountered and the measures envisaged to overcome them.

Elimination of child labour in the cotton, textile and garment value chains (CLEAR COTTON project). Further to its previous comment, the Committee notes the Government’s indications that various types of action have been undertaken in the context of the CLEAR COTTON project 2018–23, with the support of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the ILO, including: (i) action plans at the regional level for Boucle du Mouhoun and at the communal level for Ouarkoye have been drawn up; (ii) a study of capacity-building needs for cotton producer cooperatives regarding fundamental principles and rights at work has been carried out; and (iii) a strategic plan for the elimination of child labour in cotton production has been adopted by the National Union of Cotton Producer Cooperatives (UNPCB). The Government further indicates that the CLEAR COTTON project has been carried out with the support of the NGO Winrock International, also aimed at reducing the worst forms of child labour, and that the CLEAR COTTON project ended in December 2023.

In addition, the Government emphasizes that various training sessions have been carried out, including for: (i) 45 UNPCB executive board members and technicians; (ii) 130 representatives of the communal authorities and members of community child protection networks and units; (iii) 31 members of cotton producer cooperatives and unions; (iv) 54 persons involved in the “Fast-track/bridge education strategy (SSA/P)”; and (v) 78 managers, technicians and members of cotton cooperatives.

However, the Committee notes the indication in the “National survey of child labour in Burkina Faso 2022”, attached to the Government’s report, that the main focus of the primary sector is cotton growing and 47.9 per cent of girls and 54.5 per cent of boys forced to engage in child labour come from rural areas. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the results achieved in the context of regional action plans to combat the worst forms of child labour in the cotton, textile and garment value chains. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to implement the strategic plan adopted by the UNPCB for the elimination of child labour in cotton production.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. HIV/AIDS orphans. Further to its previous comments, the Committee noted that UNAIDS statistics for 2020 put the estimated number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) at 83,000. It recalled that HIV/AIDS orphans are at increased risk of becoming involved in the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s indications that a total of 25,993 OVC (9,326 girls and 16,667 boys) have access to care centres for internally displaced students. In addition, 372 OVC have been placed in vocational training.

However, the Committee notes that UNAIDS statistics for 2023 put the number of OVC at 86,000, a higher estimate than for 2020. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure that these children are protected from the worst forms of child labour. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the specific measures taken and results achieved in terms of the number of OVC removed from the worst forms of child labour and reintegrated in education or vocational training.

Children working and living in the streets. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that 719 children, women and internally displaced young persons involved in begging have been taken off the streets, and 215 children in street situations or in situations of mobility have been placed in vocational training.

The Committee also notes the Government’s indications that in 2023 an operation to remove persons from begging in the commune of Ouagadougou resulted in 55 children being taken off the streets, and 3,183 children working and living in the streets and other victims of violence were returned to their families. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of children working and living in the streets who have been protected against the worst forms of child labour, including forced or compulsory labour such as begging, and have been rehabilitated and socially integrated through the various measures taken for this purpose.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. Poverty eradication. The Committee notes the indication in the “National plan of action against trafficking in persons in Burkina Faso 2023–25” (PAN-TP 2023-25), attached to the Government’s report, according to which a number of strategies support action against the trafficking of children, including: (i) the “Second national plan for economic and social development 2021–25”; (ii) the “Plan of action for the stabilization of development 2023–25”; and (iii) the “Operational plan of action 2022–23 of the national strategy 2019–23 to combat the worst forms of child labour”.

The Committee also notes various actions outside the SN-PFTE, including: (i) the “Social safety net project”, supported by the World Bank, which implements regular financial transfers for a total of 1,374,565 direct beneficiaries; (ii) the “Sectoral labour-employment-social protection policy 2018–27”, whose objective No. 3 is to improve living conditions for children and families; (iii) the “Child protection strategy 2020–24”; (iv) the “Rural development strategy 2016–25”, which tackles the poverty and vulnerability of population groups as factors that aggravate child labour; and (v) the “Emergency programme for the Sahel in Burkina Faso”, which addresses security challenges facing the country and aims to reduce the vulnerability of the population. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to reduce the incidence of poverty. It once again requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved through the plans and programmes referred to above, especially with regard to the effective reduction of poverty in vulnerable households and the impact observed on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.