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

Convention (n° 182) sur les pires formes de travail des enfants, 1999 - Cuba (Ratification: 2015)

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour and penalties. Forced labour. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indications that, following the reform of the Penal Code, Chapter VI (Forced or compulsory labour) was incorporated. The Committee notes that section 369.1 imposes a penalty of imprisonment on anyone who forces another person to perform work or provide a service against their will or under threat of harm to them or a close relative. The Committee notes with interest that where the victim is a person under the age of 18, this is classified as an aggravating circumstance by this section and incurs a penalty ranging from two to five years’ imprisonment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of section 369.1 of the Penal Code, including data on the number and nature of offences observed, investigations, prosecutions and penalties imposed.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, as a result of labour inspections carried out, no violations relating to the worst forms of child labour were detected. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the role played by labour inspectors and the police in detecting and combating the worst forms of child labour, as well as information on the number and nature of violations detected in this regard.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government (in Cuba’s National Report on the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons and the Protection of Victims, 2023) regarding the actions taken by the Ministry of Education, which identified 33,298 children in vulnerable situations. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to prevent children identified as being in vulnerable situations from the worst forms of child labour.

Article 8. International cooperation. The Committee notes that, as part of the “Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour”, the Government has participated in international events, including the “Annual meeting of the network of focal points”.

The Committee notes the lack of information regarding the agreements signed by the Ministry of the Interior to promote cooperation with foreign counterparts for the protection of children and young persons from sale, prostitution, use in pornography and trafficking. The Committee once again requests the Government to report on the measures taken under these agreements and their results.