Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2025, publiée 114ème session CIT (2026)

Convention (n° 138) sur l'âge minimum, 1973 - République centrafricaine (Ratification: 2000)

Articles 1 and 2(1) of the Convention. National policy, scope of application and application of the Convention in practice. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indications in its report that a number of measures have been taken aimed at the progressive elimination of child labour, including: (1) drawing up a national social protection policy for 2024–28; (2) signing the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework programme for the Central African Republic for 2023–27; (3) a capacity-building workshop for key actors (labour inspectors and social workers); (4) an awareness-raising campaign on action against child labour and its worst forms; (5) opening a young persons unit at the Judicial Police Department, established by a decree of 29 August 2023 and tasked with combating the most serious offences against young persons; and (6) becoming an Alliance 8.7 pioneer country.

In this regard, the targets of the Alliance 8.7 road map include: (1) implementing legislation and regulations relating to child labour and its worst forms; (2) establishing local committees to combat trafficking in persons, modern slavery, forced labour, and child labour plus its worst forms; (3) providing holistic care for victims of child labour and its worst forms; (4) establishing a body to monitor victims’ cases in the competent courts; (5) strengthening the capacity of the Labour Inspectorate; and (6) establishing a database on child labour and its worst forms.

However, the Committee notes from the “National development plan 2024–28” that child labour still affects 20 per cent of children between 5 and 14 years of age, who often work in hazardous and unregulated conditions. These children are frequently engaged in agricultural work, mining or domestic work, which exposes them to considerable physical and psychological risks.

While taking into account the measures taken by the Government, the Committee once again notes with concern the significant number of children engaged in child labour, including in hazardous conditions. The Committee requests the Government to continue taking all necessary steps to ensure the progressive elimination of child labour, in particular with respect to children working in the informal economy. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on progress made in the implementation of the road map to reach target 8.7 and the results achieved.

Article 3(1) and (2). Minimum age for admission to hazardous types of work and determination of these types of work. In its previous comments, the Committee noted with concern the absence of a list of hazardous types of work, despite section 261 of the Labour Code adopted in 2009, which provides that an order shall determine the types of work and the categories of enterprises prohibited for children and the age limit up to which this prohibition will apply.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the inter-ministerial committee responsible for coordinating Alliance 8.7 matters is currently reviewing Order No. 006/MFPTSS-CAB-SG-DGTE-DESTRE of 25 May 1986, which sets out the conditions of employment for young workers, the types of work and the categories of enterprises prohibited for young people, and the age limit to which the prohibition applies. The Committee once again urges the Government to take the necessary steps without delay to determine the list of hazardous types of work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. In this regard, it requests the Government to inform it of all progress made in the revision of Order No. 006/MFPTSS-CAB-SG-DGTE-DESTRE of 25 May 1986.

Article 9(3). Keeping of registers by employers. The Committee previously noted that, under section 331 of the Labour Code, certain enterprises or establishments may be exempted from the obligation to keep an employment register by order of the Ministry of Labour. It urged the Government to take the necessary steps to bring its legislation into conformity with Article 9(3) of the Convention as soon as possible, by ensuring that no employers may be exempted from the obligation to keep a register of persons under 18 years of age employed by them or working for them.

The Committee notes the Government’s indications that the issue of the register of children under 18 years of age is being taken into account in the revision of the Labour Code. In this regard, the Committee reminds the Government that it has been raising this issue since 2003 and that the Government has not taken any steps in the meantime to bring its legislation into conformity on this point, despite having had the opportunity to do so when adopting a new Labour Code in 2009. The Committee therefore once again expresses the firm hope that, in the context of the current legislative reform, the Government will take the Committee’s comments into account, ensuring that no employers are exempt from the obligation to keep a register of children under 18 years of age employed by them or working for them, and ensuring that the registers contain, as a minimum, the names and ages or dates of birth,duly certified wherever possible, of these children. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on progress achieved regarding the adoption of the revised Labour Code and to provide a copy thereof once it has been adopted.