‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.

Children at Higher Risk

Children from sub-Saharan Africa, including those who are unaccompanied, are sometimes exploited through commercial sexual exploitation and forced begging. Children who lack legal documentation, including sub-Saharan African children and those fleeing unrest in neighboring countries, are vulnerable to labor exploitation and face violence, widespread social discrimination, and barriers to formal employment. As a result, these children generally work under informal arrangements, often in exploitative conditions. 

Barriers to Education Access

The Algerian public education system is free and compulsory for all children ages 6 to 16, regardless of ethnicity and nationality. Despite universal access to education, schools in the southern regions of Algeria face attendance problems, with some children as young as age 13 or 14 dropping out of school. Non-Algerian children face other barriers to education, such as required documentation of grade level or testing to determine their level. In addition, children who do not speak Arabic, the language of instruction, face challenges in the Algerian education system, and some families may also not be familiar with Algerian law granting free education to all children. Despite assistance from international organizations to address documentation barriers, these informal restrictions to education access result in absence from school and contribute to increased vulnerability to child labor.

In 2024, Law No. 24-06 went into effect, amending the Penal Code to increase the criminal penalties for inciting, promoting, or facilitating corruption of a child and for organized criminal groups forcing children to beg. While Algeria does criminalize the use of children in the promotion of illicit substances, Algerian law does not provide increased penalties for, or categorize as a separate crime, the use, procuring, or offering of children in the production or trafficking of drugs. Furthermore, Algeria has not determined by national law or regulation the types of work that are hazardous for children.

In 2024, 725 labor inspectors conducted 188,395 worksite inspections, finding 49 child labor violations.‡ The government conducted investigations into suspected worst forms of child labor crimes, including forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation, but government data do not disaggregate by age. In addition, the government conducted at least 1 investigation into the use of children in illicit activities and convicted 7 perpetrators.‡

‡ Data are from January 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024.

‡ Program is funded by the Government of Algeria.

Download the 2024 Bibliography