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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Progressive Elimination of Child Labor in the Broccoli Sector

Region/Country

THE AMERICAS/Guatemala

Project Duration

October 2000 – June 2005

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2000: USD 872,762

Problem to be Addressed

Various factors contribute to the persistence of child labor in Guatemala, including poverty (especially among indigenous groups), a high rate of unemployment, and family breakdown. Children work in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy, but the greatest incidence of child labor occurs in the agricultural and service sectors. It is estimated that in Guatemala, about 318,000 children between the age of 10 and 17 years work in the agricultural sector. Child labor in broccoli cultivation is a common phenomenon. Children start working around the age of five. Much of the work that children do in broccoli requires them to be in bent over and can cause long term, adverse muscular-skeletal disorders. Children also spray insecticides on the plants. Further, those involved in harvesting use sharp tools.

Results

The project withdrew 845 children and prevented 326 children from hazardous work in broccoli production in target areas, including, Baja Verapaz, Municipality of Salama, and Chilascó village, Guatemala.

Project Objectives

Development Objective:
To contribute to the progressive elimination of child labor in broccoli production in San Rafael Chilasco, Salama, Baja Verapaz by providing the children with education and other alternatives to work.

Immediate Objectives:

  • Provide economic alternatives for at least 250 beneficiary families of the children withdrawn from work;
  • Set up credible monitoring systems to verify that (i) child workers are phased out from work and provided with education and other support services; (ii) no new children are entering work in broccoli production in the areas of implementation of the project; (iii) target children and families are benefiting from the project; and (iv) measurable progress is being made towards the prevention and eradication of child labor in the broccoli sector; and
  • Contribute to building the capacity of local organizations to address the problem of child labor.

Summary of Activities
  • Withdrew and prevented children from working in broccoli production, enrolled them in schools, and provided health and nutrition services to all targeted children and their families;
  • Organized and trained select families of working children in alternative income generating activities;
  • Strengthened the capacity of partner institutions to take action against child labor;
  • Sensitized and mobilized families, communities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, broccoli producers, workers, and employers to take action against child labor; and
  • Established a credible child labor monitoring and verification system.

GRANTEE

International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO/IPEC)
Implementing partners

Ministries of Labor, Health, and Education; Pastoral de Salud; Departmental Development Council; COOPEDEGUA; Association of Non Traditional Products; CONALFA (National Council of Literacy)

National Institute of Cooperatives (INACOP); Community Committee of Broccoli Producers of Chilascó; Municipality of Salamá.

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT)

(202) 693-4843