Government Programs and Policies to Eliminate the WorstForms of Child Labor
The Government of the Slovak Republic instituted a NationalAction Plan for Children’s Rights in 2002.[3965] It has also established a Committee on the Rights of the Child, and createddepartments within its Ministries of Education and Social Affairs to protectchildren’s rights.[3966] The government has also increased its attention to the elimination oftrafficking in the country. A new unit to combat trafficking was createdwithin the Police Department of Organized Crime in June 2002 to coordinatetrafficking investigations. The Law Against Trafficking in Persons was alsoamended to include stricter measures for violations.[3967] In addition, the government is working in consultation with the IOM and the UNOffice on Drugs and Crime to promote the international coordination of policiesand programs on trafficking.[3968] The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is implementing a project on trafficking inpersons that supports strengthening the criminal justice response, as well asproviding protection and support to victims of trafficking.[3969]
In collaboration with UNESCO, the government has developedan Education for All Program,[3970]sponsored a media campaign to encourage school attendance, and developed apre-school program to teach Roma children the Slovak language.[3971] The European Community’s Phare Program has funded the project “Improvement ofthe Situation of the Roma in the Slovak Republic,” which includes an educationcomponent geared at improving the integration of Roma children in primaryschool.[3972]
Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
Statistics on the number of working children under the ageof 15 in the Slovak Republic are unavailable.[3973] Girls from Slovakia are trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexualexploitation, and Slovakia is a country of origin, transit and a destinationcountry for such victims of trafficking.[3974] The Committee on the Rights of the Child has expressed concerns over severalissues related to children. In particular, the transit of trafficked childrenthrough Slovakia for the purpose of pornography, prostitution and sex tourismhas drawn attention to the need for protecting children.[3975] Insufficient data and awareness of the phenomenon of the commercial sexualexploitation of children persist.[3976]
Education is free and compulsory. The Education Act of 1994established a 9-year compulsory school attendance. In 1998, the law was amendedand a gradual change to 10 years was initiated.[3977] In 2000, the gross primary enrollment rate was 103 percent, and the net primaryenrollment rate was 89.4 percent.[3978]Primary school attendance rates are unavailable for the Slovak Republic. Whileenrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do notalways reflect children’s participation in school.[3979] Although official statistics are unavailable, it is believed that fewer Romathan Slovak children attend primary school.[3980] Roma children are also disproportionately placed in special schools for thementally disabled, often because they lack sufficient knowledge of the Slovaklanguage.[3981]
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
The Labor Code sets the minimum age for employment at 15years. Children under the age of 15 may perform light work in cultural orartistic performances, sports events, and advertising activities with theapproval of the National Labor Inspector’s Office as long as the work does notaffect their health, safety, development, or full-time schooling.[3982] Children under the age of 16 years may not work underground or perform workthat is inappropriate for their age or detrimental to their health.[3983] Children under 16 may not work more than 30 hours per week, and children overage 16 are limited to 37.5 hours per week.[3984] Violations for child labor include civil fines up to 500,000 crowns (USD11,494) for first time offenders, and up to 1 million crowns (USD 22,989) forrepeat offenders.[3985]
The Criminal Code prohibits the sale and trafficking ofpersons, and these crimes can be penalized more severely when the victim isunder the age of 18.[3986] The trafficking of children for the purposes of adoption, child labor, or anyother illegal purpose is also prohibited by the Criminal Code.[3987]A person convicted of selling a child under the age of 15 for the purpose ofprostitution can receive a penalty of up to 12 years imprisonment. A maximumsentence of 15 years can be applied if serious bodily injury results or if theperpetrator is an organized crime member.[3988] On September 1, 2002, the Law Against Trafficking in Persons was revised toinclude sentences of 3 to 10 years of imprisonment for individuals found guiltyof trafficking crimes. For offenders who were involved with crime syndicates,the length of imprisonment can last from 12 to 15 years.[3989] The Constitution prohibits forced labor.[3990]
The inspection section of the Ministry of Labor enforces thecountry’s child labor laws.[3991] Child labor complaints are first received and investigated by the Ministry’sdistrict inspection units. If a violation of a child labor law is found tohave occurred, the case is turned over to the national inspection unit. Thegovernment distributes fliers explaining legislation on and hazards of childlabor, and also provides specific training to its inspectors on child labor.[3992] In 1997, a special department was established in the Slovak Police Corps thatdeals specifically with crimes committed against children and juveniles,including commercial sexual exploitation.[3993]
The Government of the Slovak Republic ratified ILOConvention 138 on September 29, 1997, and ILO Convention 182 on December 20,1999.[3994]
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