diff --git a/Child Labor/countries_2016.xml b/Child Labor/countries_2016.xml index 2931f4a..d750ec6 100644 --- a/Child Labor/countries_2016.xml +++ b/Child Labor/countries_2016.xml @@ -1819,7 +1819,7 @@ Indo-Pacific No Minimal Advancement – Efforts Made but Regression in Practices that Delayed Advancement - In 2022, Bangladesh made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments rescued 3,990 children from working in various hazardous sectors. Furthermore, the government added five additional sectors to the hazardous work list (dried fish production; informal steel-based work; brick and stone production, collection, and carrying; tailoring and informal production of garments; and waste management), officially prohibiting children from working in these jobs. The Bangladesh government also launched its first national study on human trafficking. The study will help provide a baseline understanding of the human trafficking situation in the country, including how human trafficking crimes are committed and how victims are targeted. However, despite these initiatives to address child labor, Bangladesh is assessed as having made only minimal advancement because it continues to obstruct educational opportunities for Rohingya children. The government has closed Rohingya-operated schools, banned Rohingya children from attending private schools outside of refugee camps, and threatened Rohingya children and teachers with having their identity cards confiscated, all of which further hampered educational access for Rohingya refugee children. Furthermore, children in Bangladesh are still subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and forced labor in the drying of fish and the production of bricks. Children also perform dangerous tasks in the production of garments and leather goods. The Bangladesh Labor Act does not apply to children working in all sectors in which child labor occurs. Though the government did not publicly release information on its criminal law enforcement efforts related to child labor in 2022, penalties for child labor violations can only be imposed after a lengthy legal process and, when courts do impose them, the fines are too low to deter child labor law violations. + In 2022, Bangladesh made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments rescued 3,990 children from working in various hazardous sectors. Furthermore, the government added five additional sectors to the hazardous work list (dried fish production; informal steel-based work; brick and stone production, collection, and carrying; tailoring and informal production of garments; and waste management), officially prohibiting children from working in these jobs. The Bangladesh government also launched its first national study on human trafficking. The study will help provide a baseline understanding of the human trafficking situation in the country, including how human trafficking crimes are committed and how victims are targeted. The government supported the rollout of the Myanmar Curriculum to over 250,000 Rohingya children in 2022, providing Rohingya students with a formal, standardized education based on Burma’s national curriculum. However, despite these initiatives to address child labor, Bangladesh is assessed as having made only minimal advancement because it continues to obstruct educational opportunities for Rohingya children. Reports indicate that the Bangladesh government closed Rohingya-operated schools and threatened to confiscate UNHCR-issued identity cards from Rohingya teachers and move them to the flood-prone island of Bhasan Char, which hampered education access for Rohingya children. Furthermore, children in Bangladesh are still subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and forced labor in the drying of fish and the production of bricks. Children also perform dangerous tasks in the production of garments and leather goods. The Bangladesh Labor Act does not apply to children working in all sectors in which child labor occurs. Though the government did not publicly release information on its criminal law enforcement efforts related to child labor in 2022, penalties for child labor violations can only be imposed after a lengthy legal process and, when courts do impose them, the fines are too low to deter child labor law violations. Bidis (hand-rolled cigarettes) @@ -2142,7 +2142,7 @@ Ensure that the local district authorities, responsible for implementing the central government's job creation project, enforce strict anti- child labor policies and penalize those who hire children for government-funded job programs. - Provide sufficient education services for Rohingya refugee children by removing barriers to attending school, allowing instruction in Bangla, expanding the small pilot program to include children of all ages, ceasing the seizure of identification documents, and implementing programs to decrease children's engagement in child labor activities + Expand education services for Rohingya refugee children by removing barriers to attending school, allowing instruction in Bangla, expanding the small pilot program to include children of all ages, ceasing the seizure of identification documents, and implementing programs to decrease children's engagement in child labor activities Expand programs to address the scope of the child labor problem, including developing and implementing programs to address child labor in the informal garment, leather, and fish drying industries. @@ -7663,7 +7663,7 @@ specify the conditions under which light work may be conducted, as defined by in Sub-Saharan Africa No Minimal Advancement – Efforts Made but Regression in Practice that Delayed Advancement - In 2022, the Democratic Republic of the Congo made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. In October, the Inter‐ministerial Commission to Combat Child Labor in Mines and Artisanal Mining Sites launched the Child Labor Monitoring System. Moreover, the Ministry of Labor began recruiting 2,000 labor inspectors and controllers, some of whom will be trained to conduct inspections in mine sites. President Felix Tshisekedi also promulgated Law No° 22/067 for the Prevention and Fight Against Trafficking in Persons, which criminalizes all forms of trafficking and prescribes stringent penalties, addressing gaps that existed in the previous legal framework. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is receiving an assessment of minimal advancement because of the national army’s complicity in the worst forms of child labor. During the year, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo supplied weapons and munitions to non-state armed groups known for recruiting children. Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also subjected to other forms of the worst forms of child labor, including in the forced mining of gold, tin ore (cassiterite), tantalum ore (coltan), and tungsten ore (wolframite), and are used in armed conflict, sometimes as a result of forcible recruitment or abduction by non-state armed groups. Children also mine cobalt ore (heterogenite) in the Copperbelt region. The government did not publish labor or criminal law enforcement data. It also failed to take active measures to ensure that children are not inappropriately incarcerated, penalized, or physically harmed solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of their exploitation in the worst forms of child labor. Other gaps remain, including a lack of sufficient numbers of enforcement personnel, insufficient training for enforcement personnel, limited financial resources, and poor coordination of government efforts to address child labor. + In 2022, the Democratic Republic of the Congo made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. In October, the Inter‐ministerial Commission to Combat Child Labor in Mines and Artisanal Mining Sites launched the Child Labor Monitoring System. Moreover, the Ministry of Labor began recruiting 2,000 labor inspectors and controllers, some of whom will be trained to conduct inspections in mine sites. President Felix Tshisekedi also promulgated Law No° 22/067 for the Prevention and Fight Against Trafficking in Persons, which criminalizes all forms of trafficking and prescribes stringent penalties, addressing gaps that existed in the previous legal framework. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is receiving an assessment of minimal advancement because of the national army’s complicity in the worst forms of child labor. During the year, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo supplied weapons and munitions to non-state armed groups known for recruiting children. Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also subjected to other forms of the worst forms of child labor, including in the forced mining of gold, tin ore (cassiterite), tantalum ore (coltan), and tungsten ore (wolframite), and are used in armed conflict, sometimes as a result of forcible recruitment or abduction by non-state armed groups. Children also mine cobalt ore (heterogenite) in the Copperbelt region. The government did not publish labor or criminal law enforcement data. It also failed to take active measures to ensure that children are not inappropriately incarcerated, penalized, or physically harmed solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of their exploitation in the worst forms of child labor. Other gaps remain, including a lack of sufficient numbers of enforcement personnel, insufficient training for enforcement personnel, limited financial resources, and poor coordination of government efforts to address child labor. Cobalt ore (heterogenite) @@ -9284,7 +9284,7 @@ recruitment of children under age 18 by non-state armed groups. Latin America and the Caribbean No Minimal Advancement – Efforts Made but Regression in Practice that Delayed Advancement - In 2022, the Dominican Republic made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Ministry of Labor created the Protocol for Coordination and Internal Action to address situations of complaints or detection of child labor and its worst forms. In addition, several government agencies signed a cooperation agreement to implement a new transportation program that facilitates school access in hard-to-reach areas. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, the Dominican Republic is assessed as having made only minimal advancement because of a practice that delays advancement to eliminate of child labor. Numerous reports indicate that school administrators have denied access to education to a significant number of children without identity or residency documents. Children of foreign origin or descent are also being prevented from receiving social services, including access to the government's poverty reduction and vocational training programs. Children in the Dominican Republic are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture, including forced labor in the production of various crops. Significant enforcement gaps remain, including limited human and financial resources for labor and criminal enforcement agencies to conduct inspections, and the lack of authority for labor inspectors to directly assess penalties for labor law violations. In addition, the Dominican Republic's legal prohibitions related to trafficking are insufficient because they require threats, the use of force, or coercion to be established for the crime of child trafficking. + In 2022, the Dominican Republic made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Ministry of Labor created the Protocol for Coordination and Internal Action to address situations of complaints or detection of child labor and its worst forms. In addition, several government agencies signed a cooperation agreement to implement a new transportation program that facilitates school access in hard-to-reach areas. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, the Dominican Republic is assessed as having made only minimal advancement because of a practice that delays advancement to eliminate child labor. Numerous reports indicate that school administrators have denied access to education to a significant number of children without identity or residency documents. Additionally, children without identity or residency documents, most of whom are of foreign origin or descent, are being prevented from receiving social services, including access to the government's poverty reduction and vocational training programs. Children in the Dominican Republic are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture, including forced labor in the production of various crops. Significant enforcement gaps remain, including limited human and financial resources for labor and criminal enforcement agencies to conduct inspections, and the lack of authority for labor inspectors to directly assess penalties for labor law violations. In addition, the Dominican Republic's legal prohibitions related to trafficking are insufficient because they require threats, the use of force, or coercion to be established for the crime of child trafficking. Baked Goods @@ -12523,7 +12523,7 @@ project-intensifying-action-against-forced-labor-and-child Latin America and the Caribbean No Moderate Advancement - In 2022, Guatemala made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government enacted a decree amending the Penal Code to include and increase the penalties for online commercial sexual exploitation crimes committed against children. The Labor Inspectorate also increased the number of its human rights inspectors from 4 to 11, whose purview includes child labor issues. In addition, the government relaunched the "Protecting our Greatest Treasure" media campaign to raise awareness of protecting children and adolescents from sexual exploitation and human trafficking in the tourism sector. However, children in Guatemala are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture, including in the production of coffee. Moreover, in Guatemala an insufficient number of labor inspectors limits the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare's ability to address child labor. In addition, existing social programs are insufficient to reach all children engaged in exploitative labor, particularly those engaged in domestic work or agriculture. + In 2022, Guatemala made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government enacted a decree amending the Penal Code to include and increase the penalties for online sexual exploitation crimes committed against children. The Labor Inspectorate also increased the number of its human rights inspectors from 4 to 11, whose purview includes child labor issues. In addition, the government relaunched the "Protecting our Greatest Treasure" media campaign to raise awareness of protecting children and adolescents from sexual exploitation and human trafficking in the tourism sector. However, children in Guatemala are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture, including in the production of coffee. Moreover, in Guatemala an insufficient number of labor inspectors limits the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare's ability to address child labor. In addition, existing social programs are insufficient to reach all children engaged in exploitative labor, particularly those engaged in domestic work or agriculture. Broccoli @@ -16458,7 +16458,7 @@ addressing-labor-exploitation-fishing-asean Indo-Pacific No Minimal Advancement – Efforts Made but Continued Law and Practice that Delayed Advancement - In 2022, the Kyrgyz Republic made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Ministry of Internal Affairs continued to conduct raids of businesses at high risk for labor law violations, including raids to identify vulnerable children and child labor. The Criminal Code was also amended to strengthen penalties for sexual abuse of children or involving children in illicit activities. In addition, the government funded the construction and staffing of 31 new schools to improve educational access. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, Kazakhstan is assessed as having made only minimal advancement. A new moratorium on labor inspections was put into place from January 1 through December 31, 2023. The lack of unannounced inspections may leave potential violations of child labor laws and other labor abuses undetected in workplaces. Children in the Kyrgyz Republic are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in agriculture. Minimum age protections are not extended to children engaged in non-contractual employment, and research indicated that labor law enforcement efforts are not targeted to all sectors in which children are vulnerable to child labor, especially agriculture. In addition, the scope of social programs to address child labor is insufficient to fully address the extent of the problem. + In 2022, the Kyrgyz Republic made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Ministry of Internal Affairs continued to conduct raids of businesses at high risk for labor law violations, including raids to identify vulnerable children and child labor. The Criminal Code was also amended to strengthen penalties for sexual abuse of children or involving children in illicit activities. In addition, the government funded the construction and staffing of 31 new schools to improve educational access. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, Kyrgyz Republic is assessed as having made only minimal advancement. A new moratorium on labor inspections was put into place from January 1 through December 31, 2023. The lack of unannounced inspections may leave potential violations of child labor laws and other labor abuses undetected in workplaces. Children in the Kyrgyz Republic are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in agriculture. Minimum age protections are not extended to children engaged in non-contractual employment, and research indicated that labor law enforcement efforts are not targeted to all sectors in which children are vulnerable to child labor, especially agriculture. In addition, the scope of social programs to address child labor is insufficient to fully address the extent of the problem. Cotton @@ -17917,7 +17917,7 @@ reducing-child-labor-mica-producing-communities-madagascar Indo-Pacific No Moderate Advancement - In 2022, Maldives made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government significantly increased the number of labor inspections from 124 inspections in 2021 to 656 in 2022. It also increased the budget for labor inspections and the number of labor inspectors from 23 to 32. Moreover, the government began conducting a baseline study on trafficking in persons throughout the country's atolls. However, children in Maldives are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in forced domestic work, illicit activities, and commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in domestic work.Information on children's work is limited because a national survey on child labor has not been conducted. Laws in Maldives also do not sufficiently prohibit commercial sexual exploitation because the use, procurement, and offering of a child for pornographic performances are not criminally prohibited. In addition, criminal enforcement agencies did not publish statistics on the number of investigations conducted, prosecutions initiated, convictions achieved, and penalties imposed for violations related to child labor. + In 2022, Maldives made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government significantly increased the number of labor inspections from 124 inspections in 2021 to 656 in 2022. It also increased the budget for labor inspections and the number of labor inspectors from 23 to 32. Moreover, the government began conducting a baseline study on trafficking in persons throughout the country's atolls. However, children in Maldives are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in forced domestic work, illicit activities, and commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in domestic work.Information on children's work is limited because a national survey on child labor has not been conducted. Laws in Maldives also do not sufficiently prohibit commercial sexual exploitation because the use, procurement, and offering of a child for pornographic performances are not criminally prohibited. @@ -19464,7 +19464,7 @@ government-mexico-approach-combating-child-labor-and-forced Indo-Pacific No Moderate Advancement - In 2022, Mongolia made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Mongolia's revised Labor Law includes a formal prohibition of child labor exploitation and sets the minimum age for work at age 15. The National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia also published a qualitative study on child labor with support from the International Labor Organization. In addition, under the Child Protection Compact Partnership, the government trained community social workers and educators on trafficking in persons prevention and victim identification. Children in Mongolia are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in forced begging and commercial sexual exploitation. Children also engage in dangerous tasks in horse jockeying and mining. The revised Labor Law legalized unannounced labor inspections that can result in sanctions. However, confusion remains amongst inspectors on whether unannounced are permitted, which may impede enforcement of child labor laws. Lastly, due to a lack of training and formalized screening procedures, criminal law enforcement officials sometimes detain child victims of prostitution rather than referring them to social services. + In 2022, Mongolia made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Mongolia's revised Labor Law includes a formal prohibition of child labor exploitation and sets the minimum age for work at age 15. The National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia also published a qualitative study on child labor with support from the International Labor Organization. In addition, under the Child Protection Compact Partnership, the government trained community social workers and educators on trafficking in persons prevention and victim identification. Children in Mongolia are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in forced begging and commercial sexual exploitation. Children also engage in dangerous tasks in horse jockeying and mining. The revised Labor Law legalized unannounced labor inspections that can result in sanctions. However, confusion remains amongst inspectors on whether unannounced inspections are permitted, which may impede enforcement of child labor laws. Lastly, due to a lack of training and formalized screening procedures, criminal law enforcement officials sometimes detain child victims of prostitution rather than referring them to social services. Coal @@ -24086,7 +24086,7 @@ at the beginning of their employment. Latin America and the Caribbean No Moderate Advancement - In 2022, Peru made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government added all agricultural activities to its hazardous work list for children and passed a new law, which imposed higher fines for cases of commercial sexual exploitation as a result of human trafficking. The government also trained 300 judges on child labor laws and nearly 1,500 government officials on preventing and eliminating trafficking in persons and forced labor. In addition, the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labor Convention, 1930, entered into force during the reporting year. However, children in Peru are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in mining and in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in the production of rice and Brazil nuts. Peruvian law allows children ages 12 to 14 to do light work without specifying the activities in which children may work. Labor law enforcement agencies in Peru still lack sufficient inspectors and training to adequately address child labor, and the government did not provide complete information on labor law and criminal enforcement efforts against child labor. + In 2022, Peru made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government added all agricultural activities to its hazardous work list for children and passed a new law, which imposed higher fines for cases of commercial sexual exploitation as a result of human trafficking. The government also trained 300 judges on child labor laws and nearly 1,500 government officials on preventing and eliminating trafficking in persons and forced labor. In addition, the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labor Convention, 1930, entered into force during the reporting year. However, children in Peru are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in mining and in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in the production of rice and Brazil nuts. Peruvian law allows children ages 12 to 14 to do light work without specifying the activities in which children may work. Labor law enforcement agencies in Peru still lack sufficient inspectors and training to adequately address child labor, and the government did not provide complete information on labor law and criminal enforcement efforts against child labor. Brazil Nuts/Chestnuts