Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports
Chad
Moderate Advancement
In 2021, Chad made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government created a National Referral Mechanism that outlines standard operating procedures for suspected cases of trafficking in persons, including those involving children. In addition, the government created a Multi-sectoral Technical Committee Against Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking and with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration, provided training on trafficking in persons to judicial officials. However, children in Chad are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including forced labor in cattle herding and domestic work. In addition, the government did not provide sufficient data on law enforcement efforts and has no active policies to address child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor.
Children in Chad are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including forced labor in cattle herding and domestic work. (1-3) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Chad. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report.
|
Children |
Age |
Percent |
|---|---|---|
|
Working (% and population) |
5 to 14 |
45.8 (Unavailable) |
|
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
39.1 |
|
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
|
40.6 |
|
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 | 27.0 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2018, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2022. (4)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS 6), 2019. (5)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
|
Sector/Industry |
Activity |
|---|---|
|
Agriculture |
Farming, activities unknown (1) |
|
Production of charcoal (1) |
|
|
Herding livestock, including camels and cattle (1,3,6) |
|
|
Fishing, including catching, smoking, and selling fish (1) |
|
|
Industry |
Brickmaking (7) |
|
Carpentry (1) |
|
|
Gold mining† (1,2) |
|
|
Services |
Domestic work (1,3) |
|
Working in restaurants as barmaids and servers (1,8,9) |
|
|
Street work, including vending, garbage scavenging, and carrying heavy loads† (1,7) |
|
|
Begging† (1,3) |
|
|
Working as tailors and seamstresses (7) |
|
|
Working in auto repair shops (1) |
|
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (2,10) |
|
Forced labor in agriculture, begging, cattle and camel herding, domestic work, fishing, gold mining, charcoal production, and street vending (2,3,10) |
|
|
Recruitment of children by non-state armed groups for use in armed conflict (10) |
† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.
In the Lake Chad region, human trafficking networks exploit children in fisheries, and traffickers in rural areas sell children in markets for use in cattle or camel herding. (1,2,10) Human traffickers exploit children in forced labor as beggars in urban areas, agricultural laborers on farms, gold miners in the north of the country, laborers in charcoal production, and as domestic workers. (2,10) Child herders, some of whom are victims of forced labor, follow traditional routes for grazing cattle and may cross ill-defined borders across the Sahel. (2,10) Domestically, boys sent to Koranic schools, or mouhadjirin, may be forced to beg and surrender the money they receive to their teachers. (1-3,10) Girls travelling to larger towns in search of work may be subjected to commercial sexual exploitation or domestic servitude. In addition, Nigerian terrorist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State-West Africa Province forcibly abduct minors to serve as child soldiers, suicide bombers, child brides, and forced laborers. (2)
As of the end of 2021, Chad hosted more than 550,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the second largest per capita population in Africa. More than half of all refugees were children. (1,2,10-15) The Boko Haram insurgency, flooding, and multiple epidemics have internally displaced 406,573 Chadians. (15-18) From August to December 2021, an estimated 105,088 Cameroonian refugees entered Chad after the outbreak of intercommunal conflict in Cameroon's Far North region. An estimated 88 percent of these refugees are women and children. (15) Children in Chad's refugee and IDP communities are vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking due to their economic instability and lack of access to support systems. (2,10,16,17)
Both the Constitution and the Law Orienting the Education System mandate free and compulsory education in Chad. (19,20) Moreover, Chad was the first country in the region to integrate its network of refugee schools into the national education system; these schools are fully accredited and receive state funding. (21) While basic education is free by law, some schools require additional payment for textbooks and for supplemental fees. (1,22) Other barriers to education include shortages of schools, classrooms, and teachers. In addition, some schools do not offer all grade levels. (1)
Girls experience significantly higher dropout rates than boys, and children with disabilities may be unable to attend school altogether. (23,24) Moreover, birth certificates may be required for enrollment in school; although this rule is not consistently enforced, especially in rural areas. (1) Only 12 percent of children nationwide are registered at birth, with some areas experiencing birth registration rates as low as 5 percent. (25)
Chad has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).
|
Convention |
Ratification |
|---|---|
|
ILO C. 138, Minimum Age |
✓ |
|
ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor |
✓ |
|
UN CRC |
✓ |
|
UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict |
✓ |
|
UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography |
✓ |
|
Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons |
✓ |
The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Chad’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the lack of prohibition against the use of children in illicit activities.
|
Standard |
Meets International Standards |
Age |
Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Age for Work |
Yes |
14 |
Article 52 of the Labor Code; Article 1 of the Decree Relating to Child Labor (26,27) |
|
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Articles 6 and 7 of the Decree Relating to Child Labor (26) |
|
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
Yes |
Articles 6 and 10 of the Decree Relating to Child Labor; Articles 5, 19, and 22 of the President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons (26,28) |
|
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
Yes |
Article 20 of the Constitution; Chapter 1, Article 5 of the Labor Code; Articles 5 and 15 of the President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons; Articles 292 (e), 292 (c), 327, 328, and 331 of the Penal Code (20,27-29) |
|
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Articles 3, 5, 6.2, and 7.1 of the President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons; Articles 10, 330, and 331 of the Penal Code (28,29) |
|
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Yes |
Articles 335, 336(a), 362, 364, 443, and 446 of the Penal Code; Articles 81–85 of the Law on Cyber Security and Fight Against Cyber Criminality; Articles 5, 16, and 22 of the President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons (28-30) |
|
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
No |
||
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
Yes |
18 |
Article 32 of the Law on the Organization of the Armed Forces; Article 1 of the Ordinance Prohibiting the Use of Children in Armed Conflict; Article 52 of Military Statute N° 006/PR/06; Article 5 of the President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons; Articles 10, 286 (cc), 288 (g), and 370 of the Penal Code (28,29,31-33) |
|
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
Yes |
Article 32 of the Law on the Organization of the Armed Forces; Article 22 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; Articles 5, 18, and 22 of the President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons; Articles 10, 286 (cc), 288 (g), and 370 of the Penal Code (28,29,31,34) |
|
|
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
Yes |
Article 1 of the Ordinance Prohibiting the Use of Children in Armed Conflict; Articles 5, 18, and 22 of the President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons; Articles 10, 286 (cc), 288 (g), and 370 of the Penal Code (28,29,32) |
|
|
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
16‡ |
Articles 21, 23, 25, and 28 of the Law Orienting the Education System; Article 35 of the Constitution (19,20) |
|
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Article 9 of the Law Orienting the Education System; Article 35 of the Constitution (19,20) |
‡ Age calculated based on available information (19)
As the minimum age for work is lower than the compulsory education age, children may be encouraged to leave school before completion of compulsory education. (19,20,26,27)
The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.
|
Organization/Agency |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Ministry of Public Service, Employment, and Social Dialogue (MOPS) |
Oversees Chad's labor inspectorate and enforces child labor laws. (8) Administers a directorate charged with addressing the worst forms of child labor, and maintains a specific point of contact to assist in coordinating child protection and human trafficking issues. (8) |
|
Ministry of Justice, Human Rights, and Guardian of the Seal (MOJ) |
Drafts and enforces laws and coordinates efforts to protect human rights. Through its Directorate for Protection and Legal Monitoring of Children, enforces laws related to child labor and child trafficking. (8,10) |
|
National Police’s Child Protection Brigade (CPB) |
Enforces and investigates allegations of child exploitation, including human trafficking and the worst forms of child labor. (1,2,10) Evacuates children to its headquarters in N’Djamena, from where they may be moved to Ministry of Women and Childhood Protection (MWCP) temporary shelters in Koundoul. (8) Includes 100 "focal points" spread throughout all 23 provinces. These focal points are not trained investigators, but they are responsible for coordinating investigations with hub offices and referring allegations to investigators. (1,10) CPB or other local authorities notify MOJ's Directorate for Protection and Legal Monitoring of Children, UNICEF, and local NGOs when there is a case of child trafficking or abuse. (10) Allegations may be submitted directly by the public or by MWCP, MOPS, or MOJ. The government's regional child protection technical committees also identify and refer child trafficking victims to CPB. (1) CPB is active in Chad’s largest cities (N’Djamena, Moundou, Sarh, Mongo, Mao, and Abéché). (10) However, research indicates that CPB is not well known by the public, thus limiting its impact. (1) |
Labor Law Enforcement
Research did not find information on whether labor law enforcement agencies in Chad took actions to address child labor.
|
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2020 |
2021 |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number of Labor Inspectors |
36 (9) |
36 (1) |
|
Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties |
Yes (27) |
Yes (27) |
|
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
No (9) |
No (1) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
No (9) |
Yes (1) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Yes (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number Conducted at Worksite |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Routine Inspections Targeted |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (27) |
Yes (27) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
Yes (9) |
No (1) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (9) |
Yes (1) |
In addition to 36 full-time inspectors, the Ministry of Public Service, Employment, and Social Dialogue (MOPS) employs 50 labor controllers who act in an advisory role (but are unable to conduct inspections themselves). (1,9) However, the number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Chad’s workforce, which includes approximately 5.3 million workers. According to the ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in less developed countries, Chad would need to employ about 133 labor inspectors. (1,35,36) Chad does not maintain a central database for routine inspections, including child labor violations. In addition, the government did not provide information on its labor law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report. (1) In Chad, child labor complaints are supposed to be received by the police, who are then supposed to refer the complaints to the Child Protection Brigade. This referral mechanism does not route cases to the labor inspectorate, nor is there another mechanism through which MOPS may receive child labor complaints directly. (1)
Ongoing austerity measures, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with regular changes of Ministers hindered the government's ability to conduct labor inspections. (1) Labor inspectors lacked sufficient resources, including transportation, to conduct investigations outside the city in which they are based. (1) Research indicates that the informal sector, in which many children work, is also largely unmonitored. (1,3)
Criminal Law Enforcement
Research did not find information on whether criminal law enforcement agencies in Chad took actions to address child labor.
|
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2020 |
2021 |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Unknown (9) |
No (1) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (9) |
N/A (1) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
No (9) |
No (1) |
|
Number of Investigations |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number of Violations Found |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Number of Convictions |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (9) |
Unknown (1) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (9) |
Unknown (1) |
In the reporting period, the Government of Chad released a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) that outlines standard operating procedures for suspected cases of trafficking in persons, including those involving children. The NRM is designed to improve identification of trafficking in persons by law enforcement; coordinate relevant entities; and ensure effective victim protection and assistance, including the provision of social services. (1,10) The NRM manual also outlines victims' rights, including safe accommodation and medical, psychological, and legal assistance. (10)
The government does not maintain a centralized criminal records database. All criminal records are handwritten, and hard copies are stored at courts and regional tribunals. (1) The government did not provide clear information on its criminal law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report. (1) No trainings were held for police or gendarmes officials in 2021, reportedly due to the impact of the pandemic. (1) The Ministry of Justice, with IOM assistance, did begin some training on trafficking in persons for judicial officials during the reporting period. (10) Despite this, many judicial officials remain unaware of Chad's laws on trafficking in persons, including the 2018 President's Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons. (10)
Civil society organizations typically assist with providing temporary shelter, legal assistance, and family reintegration services; they also track prosecutions and convictions. (2) Due to the economic impact of the pandemic, the Government of Chad reduced criminal law enforcement budgets during the reporting period. (1) Resource constraints, including lack of electricity and Internet at judicial facilities and erratic and insufficient funding allocations pose barriers to criminal investigation and prosecution. (1,2,10) In addition, cases of the worst forms of child labor are often not prosecuted under criminal law. For example, in trafficking cases involving children working as herders, local officials or NGO lawyers have negotiated settlements with employers for damages or fulfillment of contract terms on behalf of survivors' families. (9) Furthermore, child victims may be housed with their traffickers due to a lack of available service providers. (37)
The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8). However, gaps exist that hinder the effective coordination of efforts to address child labor, including lack of funding to carry out mandates.
|
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
|---|---|
|
Working Group on the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Coordinates government efforts on child trafficking, provides training, conducts awareness-raising activities, and strengthens the network of government organizations that address human trafficking. Chaired by MWCP Child Protection Directorate and includes representatives from four other ministries, including MOPS. (1) Research was unable to determine whether the committee was active during the reporting period. (1) |
|
Interministerial Committee on Child Soldiers |
Coordinates government efforts to eliminate the use of children in armed conflict and address the worst forms of child labor. Located in each of the eight military regions and includes representatives from the government, army, gendarmerie, and civil society organizations. (1) Conducts awareness-raising activities and training in the military. (1) A child soldiers task force comprising UNICEF; the Ministry of Defense; MOJ; and MWCP, periodically screen recruitment pools for minimum age requirement violations. (1) Research was unable to determine whether the committee was active during the reporting period. (1) |
|
Ministry of Women and Childhood Protection (MWCP) |
Protects children’s rights, provides temporary shelter to victims, and assists with reintegration when appropriate. Through its Child Protection Directorate, leads government efforts on child protection, including from child labor, and liaises with the Child Protection Directorate at MOJ. (1,10) With UNICEF and local NGO support, MWCP-run shelters provide temporary assistance to victims of child trafficking, including food; education; medical and psychological care; and reintegration services. Child Protection Directorates at various ministries and the National Police’s CPB work together to provide support and reintegration services to victims of exploitation. (8,10) Shelters continued to provide victim services during the reporting period. (8) |
|
MWCP’s Regional Child Protection Committees |
Coordinates regional government efforts to address the worst forms of child labor. Includes representatives from MWCP, MOPS, MOJ, and the police. (1) Research was unable to determine whether the committee was active during the reporting period. (1) |
|
Multi-sectoral Technical Committee Against Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking* |
Implements national referral mechanism and new standard operating procedures governing the prevention, identification, and care provided to victims of human trafficking. Coordinates human trafficking-related trainings for judges and prosecutors countrywide. (1,10) Responsible for collecting data related to trafficking in persons. (10) Includes members from governmental and non-governmental bodies, including the Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Social Action, Public Health, and Communication; the Judiciary Police; the National Gendarmerie; the National Commission of Human Rights; INTERPOL; and various civil society organizations. (10) The committee was launched in July 2021 by MOJ in conjuncture with IOM. (1,10) |
* Mechanism to coordinate efforts to address child labor was created during the reporting period.
The operations of the Ministry of Women and Childhood Protection's (MWCP) Regional Child Protection Committees were limited by the impact of the pandemic, lack of funding, and limited personnel. In addition, the Multi-sectoral Technical Committee Against Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking was launched in July 2021. However as of October 2021, when donor funding from the Italian government expired, it has not received funding from the Government of Chad. (1)
The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including a lack of implementation.
|
Policy |
Description |
|---|---|
|
National Road Map to Implement the President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons |
Adopted in 2019, with the ultimate goal of implementing a National Action Plan. Coordinates interagency enforcement of the 2018 President's Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons. (1) Includes provisions for training members of the courts, local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, members of civil society, and members of enforcement agencies. (1) The National Action Plan was not yet created during the reporting period. (1) However, the Multisectoral Technical Committee on Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons, after its July 2021 launch, released a Semester Section Plan covering July-December 2021. (10) |
|
Ministry of Economy and Development Planning (MEDP) Policies |
Includes the 5-Year Plan for Development (2017–2021), which aimed to conduct a survey on child labor every 3 years, increase the rate of birth registrations, increase educational opportunities, and strengthen the human and financial capacity of MOPS's directorate charged with addressing the worst forms of child labor. (1,38) Vision 2030, another MEDP policy, aims to increase educational opportunities, establish social protection policies, and implement a national employment policy with a youth focus. (1) Research was unable to determine whether components relating to child labor in either policy were active during the reporting period. (1) |
|
Interim Education Plan (2018–2021) |
Included measures to adopt bilingual basic education (French and Arabic) and integrate Chad's refugee camp schools into the national school system. Education Cannot Wait, a UNICEF-funded program, was partially developed under the auspices of the Interim Education Plan. (9,39,40) Research was unable to determine whether funds were dispersed to implement this initiative during the reporting period. (1) |
|
National Biometric Population Registry |
Adopted in 2020 under Ordinance No. 002-PR-2020, which created a national biometric population registry and permitted the organization of civil registry in the Republic of Chad, including for births, marriages, and divorces. Includes a dedicated database to facilitate identification of victims and perpetrators of child labor. (1,41) Activities under this policy were not implemented during the reporting period. (1,42) |
|
Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework |
The passage of Law No 027/PR/2020: Asylum in the Republic of Chad, formally guarantees refugees and asylum-seekers the right to free movement, access to public health services, and education. (43,44) Integrates schools in refugee camps into Chad's national education system, per the UNHCR's Global Compact on Refugees Framework. (43) Government implementing partners include the Ministry of Administration and Territory, Ministry of Economy and Development Pacification, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and Ministry for Child Protection. Other partners include Chad's National Commission for the Reception and Reintegration of Refugees and Returnees, Cellule Filets Sociaux, and local authorities at the provincial and prefecture levels. (43) The framework is supported by international donor agencies and NGOs such as the Jesuit Refugee Service Chad, whose Darfuri camp mentorship program (2019–2022) pairs Sudanese refugee teachers with local Chadian teachers. (43,45) Research was unable to determine whether this policy was active during the reporting period. (1) |
‡ The government had other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor. (46,47)
Although the government adopted a roadmap to address trafficking in persons, research found no evidence of a policy on other worst forms of child labor. (1) While the Semester Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons for July to December 2021 contained strategic objectives and costs tied to specific activities, there were no dedicated funds to cover these costs after 2021, when Italian government funding for the Multisectoral Technical Committee ended. (10) Research was unable to determine whether any activities for the Semester Action Plan were carried out after September 2021. (10)
In 2021, the government funded and participated in programs that may contribute to eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including the inadequacy of programs to address the full scope of the problem.
|
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Refugees and Host Communities Support (2018–2023) |
$60 million World Bank-funded project to improve access to health and education services for refugees and host communities by rehabilitating and constructing primary schools. (1,48,49) As of the end of the reporting period, cash transfers reached approximately 100,000 participants, 80 percent of whom were women. (48) |
|
UNICEF Programs |
Multifaceted humanitarian action targeting children, including refugees and internally displaced children in Chad. Includes interventions in education, healthcare, nutrition, and other areas of basic need. (15) Through its $21 million Education Cannot Wait (2020–2022) program, supports education for 230,000 at-risk children. (50) The program was developed under the Ministry of National Education's Transitional Education Plan, Program to Strengthen Literacy, Humanitarian Response Plan, and Education Cluster Strategy. (39,50) Interventions include early childhood education, in addition to non-formal education and literacy programs for out-of-school adolescent children (ages 9 to 14). (39,50) In 2021, UNICEF continued distance learning programs through radio and television, reaching 607,675 children, including 136,426 girls. (15) UNICEF also provided school supplies to 245,940 children, including 115,251 girls, affected by the crisis in the Central African Republic and the Lake Chad. Basin. (15) |
|
UNDAF (2017–2021) |
Aimed to provide access to quality education for children who are school aged, refugees, and vulnerable; improve social protection; and promote good governance. (1,53) Research was unable to determine whether the program was implemented during the reporting period. (1) |
|
WFP Strategic Plan (2019–2023) |
Aims to address hunger and malnutrition in Chad among crisis-affected and vulnerable populations. (54,55) Seeks to promote resilient livelihoods and sustainable food systems. Prioritizes strengthening national institutions to manage food security and coordinating cooperation with humanitarian and development partners in Chad. (54) Through joint initiatives Breaking Barriers to Girls’ Education and Education Cannot Wait, provides meals to school children. (55) During the reporting period, WFP assisted 1.1 million crisis-affected people with unconditional food assistance, supported 218,600 children and school staff through the WFP school feeling program, and reached 173,500 people through resilience building activities such as environmental conservation and home and community asset creation. (55) |
† Program is funded by the Government of Chad.
The government’s funding of social programs continued to be limited due to austerity measures during the reporting period, and social services are limited to urban areas. (1) Although Chad has programs that target child labor, their scope is insufficient to adequately address the extent of the problem, particularly in regards to the use of child labor in herding cattle, forced child labor in domestic work, and commercial sexual exploitation. (1,56)
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Chad (Table 11).
|
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Legal Framework |
Ensure that laws specifically prohibit children from being used, offered, or procured for illicit activities. |
2011 – 2021 |
|
Raise the minimum age for work to the age up to which education is compulsory. |
2018 – 2021 |
|
|
Enforcement |
Ensure that the roles of enforcement agencies are well-known and understood by the public. |
2016 – 2021 |
|
Strengthen the labor inspectorate by providing inspectors with sufficient resources—including training, transportation, and budget allocations—to conduct inspections in both the formal and informal sectors. |
2014 – 2021 |
|
|
Collect, store, and publish data on law enforcement efforts in a central database, including information about labor inspectorate funding, the number and type of inspections conducted, whether violations were found, penalties imposed, and fees collected, and the number of criminal investigations conducted, violations found, prosecutions initiated, convictions obtained, and penalties imposed. |
2014 – 2021 |
|
|
Establish a mechanism for the Ministry of Public Service, Employment, and Social Dialogue to receive child labor complaints. |
2021 |
|
|
Significantly increase the number of labor inspectors to meet the ILO's technical advice. |
2012 – 2021 |
|
|
Ensure that criminal law enforcement agencies are sufficiently funded, law enforcement officers are trained, and existing penalties are enforced according to the law. |
2015 – 2021 |
|
|
Ensure that the judicial system receives sufficient resources, including training and funding for infrastructure, to effectively prosecute cases and manage data on the worst forms of child labor. |
2021 |
|
|
Ensure a sufficient number of service providers are available for child survivors of trafficking so victims are not housed with their traffickers. |
2020 – 2021 |
|
|
Coordination |
Ensure that coordinating committees are active and receive adequate resources to carry out their mandates. |
2014 – 2021 |
|
Government Policies |
Adopt a policy to address all relevant worst forms of child labor in Chad and ensure that existing policies are fully funded and implemented. |
2009 – 2021 |
|
Ensure that activities are undertaken to implement key policies related to child labor during the reporting period and that data on these activities are published. |
2020 – 2021 |
|
|
Social Programs |
Ensure access to education for all children by eliminating school-related fees; increasing the number of schools, grade levels, classrooms, and teachers available throughout the country, including for children in refugee camps; implementing programs to increase enrollment of girls; and providing accommodations for students with disabilities. |
2014 – 2021 |
|
Ensure that all children are issued birth certificates, which may be required for school enrollment. |
2014 – 2021 |
|
|
Ensure that existing programs receive adequate funding to support victims of child labor throughout the country, and that programs are implemented as intended. |
2016 – 2021 |
|
|
Establish or expand programs to provide services to children engaged in the worst forms of child labor, such as forced child labor in herding cattle, domestic work, and commercial sexual exploitation. |
2009 – 2021 |
- U.S. Embassy- N'Djamena. Reporting. February 23, 2022.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2021: Chad. Washington, D.C., July 1, 2021.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-trafficking-in-persons-report/chad/ - ILO Committee of Experts. Direct Request concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Chad (ratification: 2000). Published: 2021.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:4124176 - UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 3, 2022. For more information, please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
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https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3338745:NO - O’Kane, Claire; Barros, Ornella; Meslaoui, Nicolas. Il est temps de parler: Points de Vue des Enfants sur le Travail des Enfants. Allemagne: Terre des Hommes International Federation et Kindernothilfe. May 2018.
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http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/658761536982256019/pdf/PAD2809-PAD-PUBLIC-disclosed-9-12-2018-IDA-R2018-0286-1.pdf - Education Cannot Wait. Education Cannot Wait Invests $48 Million in Chad And Ethiopia. February 15, 2020.
https://www.educationcannotwait.org/chad-ethiopia-myrp-launches/#:~:text=15 February 2020, New York,years to roll out crucial - U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Chad. Washington, D.C., June 24, 2019.
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https://www.wfp.org/operations/annual-country-report?operation_id=TD01&year=2021#/23240 - ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Observation concerning Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Chad (ratification: 2000). Published: 2021.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:4061180
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