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Territories and Non-Independent Countries
There is limited information regarding the extent and nature of child labor and the quality and provision of education in non-independent countries and territories eligible for GSP, AGOA and CBTPA benefits. These areas generally are not eligible to become members of the ILO, and Convention 138 and Convention 182 do not apply to any of them.[2794]
Anguilla (territory of the United Kingdom)
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in Anguilla are unavailable. Information is unavailable on the incidence and nature of child labor. Education is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 17.[2795] In 1998, the gross primary enrollment rate was 100.7 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 98.9 percent.[2796] The government has collaborated with UNESCO to develop an Education for All plan that aims to raise educational achievement levels, improve access to quality special education services and provide human resource training for teachers and education managers.[2797]
British Virgin Islands (territory of the United Kingdom)
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in the British Virgin Islands are unavailable, but children reportedly work occasionally during the afternoons and on weekends in family-owned businesses, supermarkets and hotels.[2798] Under the Education Ordinance, children must attend school until the age of 14.[2799] The Labor Standards set the minimum age for employment at 14 years.[2800]
Cayman Islands (territory of the United Kingdom)
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in the Cayman Islands are unavailable, but children reportedly work bagging groceries in supermarkets. According to the government, there are also subcultures within the islands where it is acceptable for children to work instead of attending school.[2801] Children under the age of 16 may not work during school hours,[2802] and children of school age are prohibited from lifting, carrying, or moving anything heavy that may cause them injury.[2803] Children cannot work at night between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m, for more than eight hours on a non-school day, or for more than two hours after school.[2804] The Department of Social Services is responsible for child labor laws and issues.[2805]
Education in the Cayman Islands is free and compulsory for 10 years.[2806] In 1995, the gross primary enrollment rate was 113.5 percent and the net primary enrollment rate was 100 percent.[2807] The government developed an Education Development Plan for 1995-1999 to support strategies designed to improve the quality of its schools. The plan included strategies to establish a national standards-based curriculum, develop and implement a personal education plan for every student, establish individual and school accountability, strengthen the relationship between parents, students and teachers, and ensure continuous staff development. [2808]
Cook Islands (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in the Cook Islands are unavailable, but children are reported to assist with domestic chores, work as performers on a part-time basis in cultural dance groups, and work in shops.[2809] Under the Education Act of 1986-1987, schooling is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 15.[2810]
The Industrial and Labor Ordinance of 1964 prohibits the employment of children under the age of 16 between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. and on Sundays and holidays.[2811] Children under the age of 18 may not work in dangerous occupations, unless they have been trained to handle dangerous machinery.[2812] The Labor and Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for monitoring the implementation of child labor laws.[2813]
Falkland Islands (territory of the United Kingdom)
Statistics on the number of working children in the Falkand Islands under the age of 15 are unavailable. Information is also unavailable on the incidence and nature of child labor. Education is free and compulsory up to the end of the academic year when a child reaches 16 years of age.[2814] In 2000, the government reported that all children in the capital were enrolled in primary or secondary schools.[2815]
The Employment of Children Ordinance of 1966 prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14.[2816] The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Ordinance of 1967 prohibits children under the age of 18 from working in industrial establishments.[2817] Due to high school enrollment rates, the government does not consider the worst forms of child labor to be a problem and does not have programs or policies to address this issue.[2818]
Gibraltar (territory of the United Kingdom)
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in Gibraltar are unavailable. Information is also unavailable on the incidence and nature of child labor. Education is free and compulsory between the ages of 4 and 15.[2819]
Montserrat (territory of the United Kingdom)
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in Montserrat are unavailable. Information is also unavailable on the incidence and nature of child labor. Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 14, and free up to the age of 17.[2820] The Government of Montserrat developed an Education in the Country Policy Plan for 1998-2002 in conjunction with the United Kingdom. Under this plan, the government is supporting initiatives in the areas of curriculum development, student assessment and evaluation, professional development for teachers, post-secondary education expansion, and educational infrastructure and information technology. [2821]
Niue (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in Niue are unavailable. Information is also unavailable on the incidence and nature of child labor. Education is free and compulsory for 8 years.[2822] Niue has one primary school, and in 1995, the gross and net primary enrollment rates were both 100 percent.[2823] The government has collaborated with UNESCO to develop an Education for All plan to improve learning achievements and provide better educational opportunities for children with special needs.[2824]
Pitcairn Islands (territory of the United Kingdom)
In 2000, the government reported that there were no working children in the Pitcairn Islands. Children under the age of 15 are prohibited from engaging in paid government work.[2825] Education is free and compulsory between the ages of 5 and 15.[2826] All of the island’s seven children were enrolled in school in 2000.[2827] The government does not believe that child labor is a problem and does not have policies or programs to address this issue.[2828]
St. Helena (territory of the United Kingdom)
In 2000, the government reported that there were no working children in St. Helena.[2829] The minimum age for employment is 15 years.[2830] Education is free and compulsory between the ages of 5 and 15.[2831]
Turks and Caicos Islands (territory of the United Kingdom)
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in the Turks and Caicos Islands are unavailable. Information is also unavailable on the incidence and nature of child labor. Nine years of basic education is provided by the government to children between the ages of 6 and 14. In 1999, the gross primary enrollment rate was 113.1 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 112.7 percent.[2832]
West Bank and Gaza Strip
Statistics on the number of children working under the age of 15 in the West Bank are unavailable, but reports indicate that many Palestinian children under the age of 16 work.[2833] Many of these children work on family farms, in family shops, and as street vendors. Some children also work in small manufacturing enterprises, such as shoe and textile factories.[2834] Education is compulsory until the age of 12.[2835] However many girls marry early and do not complete the mandatory level of schooling.[2836] Closures to the area imposed by Israel impeded some children and teacher access to schooling in 2000. Classes were also cancelled in areas under curfew.[2837]
The Palestinian Authority is responsible for enforcing the area’s labor laws. The Authority has limited capacity to enforce labor laws because it only has only 40 labor inspectors.[2838] The Palestinian Authority has been collaborating with ILO-IPEC to improve child labor law enforcement, and to conduct a child labor survey to determine the extent and nature of child labor in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with technical assistance from ILO-IPEC’s SIMPOC.[2839]
Western Sahara
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in Western Sahara are unavailable, but reports indicate that the few remaining nomadic children work as shepherds.[2840] Residents of Western Sahara are subject to Moroccan labor laws that set the minimum age for employment at 15 years, and prohibit children under the age of 18 from working in hazardous occupations or at night.[2841] Education is compulsory for 8 years.[2842] Information regarding government policies and programs to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in Western Sahara is unavailable.
Other Territories and Non-Independent Countries
Information on the incidence and nature of child labor, child labor laws and legislation and government polices and programs to eliminate the worst forms of child labor is unavailable for the following territories and non-independent countries: British Indian Ocean Territory (territory of the United Kingdom), Christmas Islands, (territory of Australia) Cocos (Keeling) Islands (territory of Australia), Heard Island and MacDonald Islands (territory of the United Kingdom), Norfolk Island (territory of Australia), Tokelau (territory of Australia), and Wallis and Futuna (territory of France).[2843]
[2794] Natan Elkin, ILO, electronic correspondence to USDOL official, January 31, 2002. Most of the areas covered in this summary report are considered by the ILO to be non-metropolitan territories and therefore, are ineligible to become members of the ILO. An ILO member can submit a declaration to the ILO requesting that these conventions apply to their non-metropolitan territories.
[2795] Access to primary education focuses on children aged 5-11. See UNESCO, The Education for All (EFA) 2000 Assessment: Country Reports-Anguilla [hereinafter EFA 2000], at http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/anguilla/rapport_1.html.
[2796] EFA 2000.
[2797] Ibid.
[2798] Sheila Brathwaite, permanent secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Government of the British Virgin Islands, letter to USDOL official, September 14, 2000.
[2799] Ibid.
[2800] Ibid.
[2801] Deanna Look Loy, director of social services, Department of Social Services, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, letter to USDOL official, September 23, 2000 [hereinafter Loy letter].
[2802] Douglas Banks, chief labor officer, Cayman Islands, interview with USDOL official, September 13, 2000 [hereinafter Banks interview].
[2803] Loy letter
[2804] Ibid.
[2805] Banks interview.
[2806] Ibid. See also UNESCO statistics [hereinafter UNESCO statistics] at http://www.uis.unesco.org/statsen/statistics/yearbook/tables/Table3_1.html.
[2807] UNESCO, Education for All: Year 2000 Assessment, [CD-ROM] [hereinafter Education for All: Year 2000 Assessment].
[2808] UNESCO, The Education for All (EFA) 2000 Assessment: Country Reports-Cayman Islands, at http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/cayman/rapport_1.html.
[2809] Andrew Young, U.S. Embassy-Auckland, electronic correspondence to U.S. Department of State official, October 1, 2001.
[2810] Ibid.
[2811] Ibid.
[2812] Ibid.
[2813] Ibid.
[2814] Rosalind Cheek, crown counsel, Falkland Islands, electronic correspondence to USDOL official, December 21, 2000 [hereinafter Cheek correspondence].
[2815] Cheek correspondence.
[2816] Ibid.
[2817] Ibid.
[2818] Ibid.
[2819] Government of Gibraltar, Education and Training, at http://www.gibraltar.gov/gi/gov_depts/education_index.htm.
[2820] Alex Ackie, clerical officer, Government of Montserrat, electronic correspondence to USDOL official, January 23, 2001.
[2821] UNESCO, The Education for All (EFA) 2000 Assessment: Country Reports-Montserrat, at http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/montserrat/rapport_1.html.
[2822] UNESCO statistics.
[2823] UNESCO, The Education for All (EFA) 2000 Assessment: Country Reports-Niue, [hereinafter EFA 2000: Niue], at http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/niue/rapport_1.html.
[2824] EFA 2000: Niue.
[2825] Leon Salt, commissioner, Pitcairn Islands, electronic correspondence to USDOL official, November 7, 2000.
[2826] Ibid.
[2827] Ibid.
[2828] Ibid.
[2829] Gillian Francis, assistant secretary, Government of St. Helena, electronic correspondence to USDOL official, November 24, 2000.
[2830] Ibid.
[2831] Ibid.
[2832] UNESCO, The Education for All (EFA) 2000 Assessment: Country Reports-Turks and Caicos Islands, at http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/turks_caicos/rapport_1.html.
[2833] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000—Occupied Territories (U.S. Department of State: Washington, D.C., 2001), Section 6d, at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/nea/index.cfm?docid=882.
[2834] Ibid.
[2835] Ibid. at Section 5.
[2836] Ibid.
[2837] Ibid.
[2838] Ibid. at Section 6d.
[2839] Ibid. See also ILO-IPEC, Child Labor Statistics: SIMPOC Countries, at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/ipec/simpoc/countries.htm on 1/29/02.
[2840] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000—Western Sahara (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State, 2001), at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/nea/index.cfm?docid=825.
[2841] Ibid. See also Lawrence Connell, U.S. Embassy-Casablanca, electronic correspondence to USDOL official, January 29, 2002.
[2842] UNESCO statistics.
[2843] A Central Intelligence Agency fact sheet states that Heard Island and MacDonald Island are currently uninhabited.
