Child labour law and challenges it faces in nigeria. Edo state established a task force to combat human trafficking and the borno state government signed as a witness to an action plan between the united nations and the. Introduction the right of every individual to respect for the dignity of his person is protected under section 34 of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria, 1999. Ilo in nigeria nigeria is the largest economy in africa, with high economic potential due to the size of its domestic market, as well as its human and natural resources. Modern policy and legislative responses to child labour. Kaduna, nigeria ten years after nigeria adopted international prohibitions on child labor into law, millions of children in the country are still engaged in child labor activities. The current version of the act was put into place in 2004, five years after their current constitution was established. The company will not tolerate the use of child or forced labour, nor exploitation of children in any of its global operations and facilities. Best interest of a child to be of paramount consideration in all actions. Unlike the laws of contract, tort, or property, the. Prohibition of taking, sending fostered child out of state or nigeria. By decision of the international labour conference at its 107th. Oct 26, 2019 these laws determine when a teenager can get a job, what kinds of jobs are allowed, and what paperwork is necessary. Child labour deprives children of their right to go to school, exposes them to violence, and reinforces intergenerational cycles of poverty.
R ather, nigeria chose to enact its own law on child s rights in nigeria albeit, borrowing heavily from the two t reaties. The nigerian labour law includes within it the relationship between the government and its workers, between publiclyowned corporations and their workers. Child trafficking, child labour, child abuses, culture, child protection, child rights, law, implementation, enforcement. See also government of nigeria, efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, february 26, 2007, 1, government of nigeria federal office of statistics and ilosimpoc, final report on national modular child labour survey. Although the government made meaningful efforts in all relevant areas during the reporting period, existing child labor laws and regulations do not apply to children in unpaid or noncontractual work. An estimated 246 million children are engaged in child labour.
The federal government, as well as most state governments, have laws that define child labor. However, gaps exist in nigeria s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the minimum age for work. An act to repeal and replace the labour code act and consolidate the law relating to labour. The result showed that child labours are predominantly found in. Lack of adequate legislation and of political will and commitment to enforce existing legislation or mandates are other factors that facilitate trafficking in persons. Findings on the worst forms of child labor niger u. Child labour policy wilmar international wilmar endeavours to provide a conducive working environment that is characterized by equality and mutual respect. According to the numbers, brought us by the international labor organization ilo, about 250 million children aged 5 to 14 are forced to work in developing countries. Labour law, the varied body of law applied to such matters as employment, remuneration, conditions of work, trade unions, and industrial relations. Even though a specialized program has worked well enough and reduced the number of working children in 20. Laws and regulations on child labor standard meets international standards.
The challenge of child labor to the achievement of mdg2. Child labor in nigeria is an evil that ruins nigerian childrens health, intellectual development, and all chances of becoming educated. Pdf nigerian children are working under unhealthy condition due to the necessity that. According to the international labour organization, the number of working children under the age of 14 in nigeria is estimated at 15 million. A legal prognosis of child labour under the nigerian. Nigerias legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the. Report on child led survey in kano state, nigeria april 2016 project supported by. Checkpoints for companies eliminating and preventing child labour 4 analysis of the situation 1.
Child labour in nigeria is the employment of children under the age of 18 in a manner that restrict or prevent them from basic education and development. Labour law is the law that stipulates how the relationship between the employer and the employee is supposed to be in a workplace. In nigeria, there are laws which expressly prohibit child labour. A case study of children in benin city abstract this research work is designed to examine the issue of child labour in edo state with a special focus on benin city. Nigeria working conditions, information about working. Children in nigeria engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in quarrying granite and gravel, commercial sexual exploitation, and armed conflict. The research instrument used was the questionnaires, one hundred. The ilos worst forms of child labour convention, 1999 no. Labour act, 2003 international labour organization. Child s right act arrangement of sections part i best interest of a child to be of paramount consideration in all actions. Childfosterage promises and trafficking in children. Indian laws relating to child labour as per the child labour prohibition and regulation act, 1986, amended in 2016 clpr act, a child is defined as any person below the age of 14, and the clpr act prohibits employment of a child in any employment including as a domestic help. He stated, section 28 2 of the child rights act and section 252 of the child rights law of lagos state prohibit exploitative labour and specifically prohibit a child from being employed in. In nigeria, child labour is spread among cocoa beans farmers.
Analysis of child labour and school attendance in nigeria. It is this conception that the act of child labour is viewed as a deviation from. Farms cannot employ children to the extent that employment would interfere with the child s schooling. What are the current child labor laws and regulations. A case study of children in benin city includes abstract and chapter one, complete project material available child labour. A comparative study of childrens rights and child labour legislation in south africa, brazil and india. Yet, this serious violation of human rights is not inevitable. Child labour in nigeria today means all jobs that children under 18 do for a certain payment, which cause a negative impact on the children s health, educational development, and normal life. Ll labour act a the wages of a worker shall in all contracts be made payable in legal tender and not otherwise.
A legal prognosis of child labour under the nigerian childs. Child means a person under the age of eighteen years rwanda 18 years law relating the rights and protection of the child, 2012 child is every person below the age of 18. The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor table 4. By doing this the movement against child labour is positioned within the human rights framework child labour is a human rights issue. Gaps in labor law enforcement, such as funding to conduct labor inspections, have also left children unprotected from the worst forms of child labor. Ten years after being incorporated into nigerian law, the child labour situation has worsened as millions of children are still engaged in child labour activities. Child labour is a global issue of international and local concern. Children at the centre child labour and unicef in action. Sep 10, 20 kaduna, nigeria ten years after nigeria adopted international prohibitions on child labor into law, millions of children in the country are still engaged in child labor activities. It had been estimated that child labour accounted for 22% of the workforce in asia, 32% in africa, 17% in latin america, and 1% in united states, canada, europe and other wealthy nations. Nigeria is one of the main producers of cocoa beans in the world. The result showed that child labours are predominantly found in the informal sector. According to a number of international human rights groups, the labour of children is used on the plantations where the law is ignored.
C182 worst forms of child labour convention, 1999 no. Despite bans, child labor prevalent in nigeria voice of. Part ii rights and responsibilities of a child rights of a child 3. For more information about teen labor laws and workplace safety and health, please visit the teen worker safety page and our frequently asked questions. Nigerian childrens parliament and the national agency for the prohibition of trafficking in persons. In addition to understanding and investigating different reasons behind the plague of child labour that has engulfed. Idowu there can be no keener revelation of a societys soul than the way in which it treats its children. Nigerian labour law looks into the rights, working conditions, minimum wage, termination clauses, and many other rules set by the government of nigeria. Child labour is pervasive in every state of the country. General provisions as to protection of wages, contracts of employment and terms and conditions of employment.
Review national laws regarding child labour why it is essential to know how your national law defines child labour. These laws vary from state to state, so, be sure to check with your state before accepting any position. A child to be given protection and care necessary for his well. Jerome september sptjer001 degree of masters of philosophy. In respect of nigeria, it had been observed that over 15 million children aged 5 14 years were engaged in child labour. The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor. An employer needs to understand the content of the national labour code and other laws that relate to child labour. Nearly 70 per cent 171 million of these children work in hazardous conditions including working in mines, working with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture or with dangerous machinery. Nigeria 18 years childs right act, 2003 section 277. Edo state established a task force to combat human trafficking and the borno state government signed as a witness to an action plan between the united nations and the nongovernmental civilian joint task force cjtf. National council of child rights advocates of nigeria naccran as the umbrella ngo involved in child rights advocacy.
Child labour, as defined by the international labour organisation ilo convention is work by children under the age of 12. Jerome september sptjer001 degree of masters of philosophy in human rights law. Out of 40 conventions ratified by nigeria, of which 26 are in force, 9 conventions have been denounced. This paper investigated the motivating factors into child labour in nigeria, examined nigerian government efforts at reduction and improvement of child labour and school attendant rates. In 2017, nigeria made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
Processing facility workers should be no less than 15 years of age or the legal minimum age if different and, where laws require, not younger than the compulsory age to be in school. The government of nigeria maintained strong antitrafficking law enforcement efforts. In its most comprehensive sense, the term includes social security and disability insurance as well. By decision of the international labour conference at its 107th session 2018 c065 penal sanctions indigenous workers. In 2006, the number of child workers was estimated at about 15 millions. Prohibition of withdrawal of a child from the care of the applicant.
An appraisal of international and local legal regimes. Dimension, reasons for its persistence and probable solutions olaitan o. An act to amend and consolidate the laws relating to labour, employers, trade unions and industrial relations. This section will focus on pieces of legislation andor conventions not covered in sections dealing with child labour specifically, and will also seek to provide an overview, as opposed. The international labour organisation has set an international law on child labor that was signed and ratified by most countries. Efficacy of the legal frameworks for child protection in nigeria a thesis submitted for the degree of doctor of philosophy by. Children in nigeria engage in the worst forms of child labor. Minimum working age and pay for children, how to apply for performance licences and what local council bylaws say about employing children, paying someone over 16 child employment gov.
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