Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Greenland

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

The Committee takes note of the Government’s first report.

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (a). All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee notes that, under section 93(2) of the Criminal Code 2008, any person who transports, transfers, houses or subsequently receives a person under the age of 18 years with a view to exploiting that person for sexual purposes, forced labour, slavery or the removal of organs, is guilty of the offence of human trafficking. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any investigations and prosecutions carried out and sanctions imposed for the offences relating to the trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation and labour exploitation under section 93(2) of the Criminal Code.

Clause (b). Use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, pornography or pornographic performances. Prostitution and pornography. The Committee notes that section 81 of the Criminal Code makes it an offence to have paid sexual relations with a young person under 18 years of age when the perpetrator had knowledge of the young person’s’ age or if they acted negligently in this regard. The Committee further notes that, under section 85 of the Criminal Code, a person commits an offence of child pornography: (1) if they distribute or possess obscene photographs or films or any other type of obscene visual representation of a person under the age of 18 years; or (2) if they take obscene photographs or films or any other type of obscene visual representation of a person under the age of 18 years with the intent to sell or otherwise distribute the material. Section 85(3) specifies that the possession of obscene images does not constitute an offence if the person concerned is 15 years or older and if they consented to the possession of these images. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of sections 81 and 85 of the Criminal Code respectively with regard to the use, procuring or offering of a child under the age of 18 years for the purpose of prostitution and pornography or pornographic performances, including on any investigations and prosecutions carried out and sanctions impose.

Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the trafficking of drugs. The Committee notes the Government’s general statement, in its report, that the trafficking of drugs is prohibited under the Criminal Code. However, the Government does not provide information on the provisions which specifically prohibit the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs is prohibited.

Articles 3(d) and 4. Hazardous work and determination of types of hazardous work. The Committee notes that section 46(3) of the Greenland Working Environment Act (WEA) 2005 provides that the Minister of Employment (MoE) may adopt rules concerning the employment of young persons, including setting a higher age limit for specific types of work with a view to ensuring that it is performed in a safe and healthy manner. In this regard, the Committee takes due note of chapter 3 of the Executive Order No. 1347 of 15 December 2005 on the work of young persons (Executive Order), which lays down rules on certain forms of work which may not be performed by young persons under the age of 18 years, as well as of Annexes 1, 4 and 6, which provide for detailed lists of types of tools, installations, work processes, substances and materials, and activities in which, and with which, young persons under the age of 18 may not be engaged or involved.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. The Government indicates that: (1) the Danish Working Environment Authority oversees compliance with the working environment legislation in Greenland, including the compliance with the regulation on young persons’ work; and (2) in 2019, the Danish Working Environment Authority carried out inspections at night in Nuuk and other cities in order to control among others young persons’ working environment in shops and kiosks.

The Committee also notes the existence of a Human Rights Council of Greenland. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the role and activities of the Danish Working Environment Authority, the Human Rights Council of Greenland and the police, in the detection and prevention of the worst forms of child labour.

Article 6. Programmes of action. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it is raising awareness through television spots, targeted to young persons and parents, to inform them about the legislation on young persons’ work. However, these videos do not appear to address issues of worst forms of child labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to adopt and implement programmes of action for the prevention of the worst forms of child labour, in consultation with workers’ and employers’ organizations, and taking into account the views of other concerned groups.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) andrequests the Government to provide updated statistical data on school enrolment and drop-out rates, disaggregated by age and gender.

Article 7(3). Designation of a competent authority. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the competent authority responsible for the implementation of the provisions giving effect to the Convention.

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the data provided by the Government on the number of young persons aged 15 to 19 years employed in the country between 2017 and 2020. However, it notes that this information does not relate to the worst forms of child labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide any available information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour.