Child Labor in British Virgin Islands: Findings from the U.S. Department of Labor

Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports

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British Virgin Islands

2024 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor:

English

Minimal Advancement

Although research found no evidence that child labor exists in the British Virgin Islands, in 2024, the government made minimal advancement in efforts to prevent the worst forms of child labor. The Cabinet approved a policy framework for developing regulations and validating legislation for issuing appointment certificates for labor inspectors, pursuant to the Labor Code. However, there is no list of hazardous work prohibited for children, nor does the law criminalize the use of children in illicit activities, including in the production and trafficking of drugs. Furthermore, as the minimum age for work of 16 years old is lower than the compulsory education age of 17 years old, children may be encouraged to leave school before the completion of compulsory education.

**Laws and Regulations on Child Labor**

Each United Kingdom (UK) overseas territory has its own constitution, which sets out its system of government and its relationship with the UK, and provides for a governor or commissioner, an elected legislature, and ministers that are responsible for domestic affairs, such as internal security (police), immigration, education, and healthcare. They are self-governing, except in the areas of foreign affairs and defense. Domestic UK law does not generally apply unless explicitly extended to the British Virgin Islands. Under Article 35(4) of the ILO Constitution, when the UK ratifies a Convention, the Territory must consider if it will accept the Convention. If the Convention is accepted, it is considered applicable to that Territory. While the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has been extended to and accepted by the British Virgin Islands, the Territory has not ratified other key international conventions concerning child labor, including ILO C. 182, ILO C. 138, UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict, UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography, and the Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons. In addition, prohibitions related to the use of children in illicit activities, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, and military recruitment by non-state armed groups are not sufficient to meet international standards.
Standard	Age	Meets International Standards	Legislation
Minimum Age for Work	16	✓	Articles 3 and 128 of the Labor Code
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work	18	✓	Articles 3 and 130 of the Labor Code
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children		✗	Articles 130 and 146 of the Labor Code
Prohibition of Slavery, Debt Bondage, and Forced Labor		✓	Articles 3 and 130 of the Labor Code; Article 14 of the Constitution Order; Section 201A of the Criminal Code
Prohibition of Child Trafficking		✓	Section 201A of the Criminal Code
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children		✗	Sections 127, 201A, and 284A of the Criminal Code; Articles 3 and 130 of the Labor Code; Section 14 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities		✗	Articles 3 and 130 of the Labor Code
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment		N/A†
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military		N/A
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups		✗
Compulsory Education Age	17	✓	Section 3(b) of the Education Amendment Act of 2014; Part 2, Division 3, Section 28(1) of the Education Act
Free Public Education		✗	Article 22 of the Constitution Order; Section 17 of the Education Act

* Country has no conscription
† Country has no standing military

In the British Virgin Islands, there is no criminal prohibition against using children in illicit activities, including in the production and trafficking of drugs. In addition, the laws prohibiting the commercial sexual exploitation of children do not meet international standards by not covering girls ages 16 to 17 or boys for use of a child in prostitution. The Labor Code specifies that hazardous work be defined by the Minister of Labor, but the Minister of Labor has not defined hazardous work for children, including seafaring, or light work that may be engaged in by children who are at least age 14. Furthermore, as the minimum age for work is lower than the compulsory education age, children may be encouraged to leave school before the completion of compulsory education. Additionally, free public education is not available up until the compulsory education age, and public schools may charge tuition fees. The Minister of Labor can designate qualified and certified public officers as labor inspectors; however, the Labor Code requires that inspectors be issued a certificate of appointment in a prescribed format. Currently, the Government has not issued a standardized format for these certificates, and the Minister is unable to officially appoint inspectors until these standards are established.

**Agencies Responsible for Child Labor Law Enforcement**

As there is no evidence of a problem, there appears to be no need for enforcement actions to address child labor, including its worst forms. However, the British Virgin Islands have established an institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor.
Organization/Agency \| Role & Activities
Department of Labor and Workforce Development: Enforces labor laws related to children and conducts inspections. Additionally, the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation is tasked with reviewing the existing legislation to ensure that legislation is in line with international standards and drafting policies toward the advancement of child labor prohibitions.
Royal Virgin Island Police Force: Through its Family and Juvenile Unit, enforces labor laws related to children.

**Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor**

Based on the reporting above, the following actions would advance the continued prevention of child labor in the British Virgin Islands.
Area	Suggested Action
Legal Framework	Ratify ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor.
	Ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict.
	Ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography.
	Ratify the Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons.
	Raise the minimum age of work from age 16 to age 17 to align with the compulsory education age.
	Determine by national law or regulation the types of hazardous work prohibited for children, after consultation with employers’ and workers’ organizations.
	Criminally prohibit the use of girls ages 16 to 17 and boys for prostitution.
	Criminally prohibit the use of children in illicit activities, including in the production and trafficking of drugs.
	Criminally prohibit the recruitment of children under age 18 by non-state armed groups.
	Ensure that tuition and other school fees are not imposed on students younger than the compulsory education age that would hinder free public education.
	Establish standards for certificates of appointment so that labor inspectors can be appointed, in accordance with Section 12 of the Labor Code.

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