Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor
The Government of Cape Verde has harmonized its Constitution and national legislation with international agreements on the rights of children; however, implementation of legislation regarding underage workers remains inadequate.[858] Education is central to the government's efforts in this area. From 1993 to 2000, the government concentrated its efforts on extending compulsory basic education, training teachers, and improving the curriculum.[859] In July 2001, Cape Verde signed an MOU with the sponsors of Education for All.[860] Under the MOU, the sponsors and the government prepared a National Plan of Action for Education for All, in order to coordinate efforts to ensure that access to a quality education for all is achieved between the years 2001 and 2015.[861] The Ministry of Education and the WFP have agreed to renew collaboration through 2005 on efforts that support primary school feeding programs on the island.[862] UNICEF and the Government of Cape Verde have also launched a variety of initiatives to improve access to schooling, particularly for girls, including programs that provide educational materials, improve the quality of education, and address gender bias.[863] The government also supports radio and television programs to reach children of primary-school age with other educational opportunities.[864]
Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
In 2001, the ILO estimated that 13.4 percent of children ages 10 to 14 years in Cape Verde were working.[865] A study of child labor in Cape Verde in 1995 found that children in urban areas are engaged in carpentry, metallurgy, in mechanic shops and on the streets. Street children in Cape Verde wash cars, haul cargo, distribute newspapers, and engage in informal trade and petty crime.[866] There are reports that street children are also being pulled into sale and consumption of illegal drugs. The sexual exploitation of children, particularly street children, occurs in Cape Verde, especially in urban areas. [867] In 2003, the police arrested alleged traffickers and victims, and criminal cases remains in the courts. Information on the extent of trafficking to and from the country is unavailable, and there are no reports supporting or denying that children were involved.[868]
In 1994, the Government of Cape Verde made education compulsory until the age of 16 years.[869] Education is free for 6 years of primary school.[870] In 2002, the Ministry of Education reported that primary school attendance was 95.1 percent. There were no gender differences in school participation.[871] A 1999 report by the World Bank noted that while most children have access to education, some problems remain. For example, many students and some teachers speak Creole at home and have a poor command of Portuguese, which is the language of instruction. Also, insufficient funds are spent on school materials, lunches and books, and there is a high repetition rate for certain grades.[872]
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
The Labor Law sets the minimum age for employment at 14 years, and prohibits children under the age of 16 from working at night or in enterprises that produce toxic products.[873] Children between the ages of 14 and 18 may not work more than 38 hours per week or more than 7 hours per day, except where special permission is granted, and can only work with the consent of their parents.[874] Cape Verde's Constitution states that children of compulsory schooling age are prohibited from working, and expressly forbids the exploitation of child labor.[875] Forced and bonded child labor are prohibited by law.[876] The Penal Code was recently revised to prohibit certain forms of child sexual exploitation.[877] The trafficking of children for the purposes of prostitution is punishable by 12 to 16 years imprisonment.[878]
The Ministries of Justice and Labor enforce child labor laws, but enforcement is mostly in the urban areas rather than the rural parts of the country. [879] The government has cooperated with European authorities and neighboring governments to address the issue of trafficking.[880]
The Government of Cape Verde has not ratified ILO Convention 138, but ratified ILO Convention 182 on October 23, 2001.[881]
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