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Grenada
Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor
From 1999 to 2000, the Government of Grenada collaborated with the Canadian International Development Agency on the Eastern Caribbean Education Reform Project to produce a film about education reform and a brochure that helps parents assist their children with their school work and literacy skills.[1861] The Education Act of 2002 imposes a 2,000 East Caribbean Dollar (USD 749) fine on any person who employs a child of school age during school hours.[1862] The government has also prepared its first comprehensive educational development plan, entitled “Strategic Plan for Educational Enhancement and Development,” to be implemented from 2002-2010. The Plan includes providing universal access to education; improving the quality of education; providing learners with relevant knowledge, attitudes and skills; establishing and strengthening relationships with partners in education; improving the effectiveness of management and administration of education at Ministry and school levels; and ensuring consistent Government financing of education, diversifying the funding sources and making certain that resources are used efficiently.[1863]
Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
Statistics on the number of working children under the age of 15 in Grenada are unavailable. It has been reported that some children work informally in the agricultural sector.[1864]
Education is compulsory in Grenada until the age of 16.[1865] In 2000, the gross primary enrollment rate was 94.6 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 84.2 percent.[1866] Primary school attendance rates are unavailable for Grenada. While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children’s participation in school.[1867] Despite high enrollment rates, factors such as poverty, poor school facilities, and the periodic need to help with family farm harvests have resulted in a 7 percent absenteeism rate among primary school children.[1868]
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act of 1999 sets the minimum age for employment in Grenada at 16 years, with the exception of holiday employment.[1869] A person convicted of violating the Act can be subject to a fine of up to USD 10,000, up to 3 years imprisonment, or both.[1870] The Constitution prohibits forced labor and slavery.[1871] No laws specifically address trafficking in persons, and there were no reports that children were trafficked to, from, within, or through the country.[1872] The Ministry of Labor enforces child labor laws in the formal sector through periodic checks; however, enforcement in the informal sector is not stringent.[1873]
The Government of Grenada ratified ILO Convention 138 and ILO Convention 182 on May 14, 2003.[1874]
[1861]Government of Canada, Canadian Cooperation in the Caribbean 2000 Edition: Grenada, CIDA.gc.com, [online] [cited August 28, 2003]; available from http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/vLUallDocByIDEn/5011F959B4C47FD38525697600474051?OpenDocument.
[1862]Ministry of Labor official Reginald Lord, facsimile communication to USDOL official, August 22, 2002. For currency conversion see FXConverter, in Oanda.com, [online] [cited August 28, 2003]; available from http://www.carosta.de/frames/convert.htm.
[1863]Government of Grenada, Strategic Plan for Educational Enhancement 2002-2010, Ministry of Education, January 2002, 21-40.
[1864]U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2002: Grenada, Washington, D.C., March 31, 2003, Section 5 [cited August 28, 2003]; available from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/index.htm.
[1865]Ibid.
[1866]World Bank, World Development Indicators 2003 [CD-ROM], Washington, D.C., 2003.
[1867]For a more detailed discussion on the relationship between education statistics and work, see the preface to this report.
[1868]U.S. Embassy- Bridgetown, unclassified telegram no. 1126, June 23, 2000.
[1869]Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, 1999, Part III, Article 32. as cited in Adrian Hayes, facsimile communication to USDOL official, May 12, 2001.
[1870]Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, 1999, Article 35
[1871]Grenada Constitution Order 1973, No. 2155, (February 7, 1974), Chapter 1, Section 4(1-2) [cited September 15, 2003]; available from http://www.georgetown.edu/pdba/Constitutions/Grenada/gren73eng.html.
[1872]U.S. Department of State, Country Reports- 2002: Grenada, Section 6f.
[1873]Ibid., Section 6d.
[1874]ILO, Ratifications by Country, in ILOLEX, [database online] [cited October 14, 2003]; available from http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/newratframeE.htm.
