2020 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Benin

 
Moderate Advancement

In 2020, Benin made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The labor inspectorate nearly tripled the number of inspections conducted over the previous year, and the government passed legislation increasing the minimum age for apprenticeships from age 14 to 15. Moreover, the National Monitoring and Coordination Working Group for Child Protection met for the first time since 2017. However, children in Benin are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in the production of cotton and crushed granite, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in domestic work and street vending. There are many barriers to education, especially for children with disabilities. In addition, the government did not publicly release information on some of its criminal law enforcement efforts, and limited resources for the adequate enforcement of child labor laws may impede government efforts to protect children from the worst forms of child labor.

II. Legal Framework for Child Labor

Benin has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).

Table 3. Ratification of International Conventions on Child Labor

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 Benin’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including a minimum age for work that is lower than the age for compulsory education.

Table 4. Laws and Regulations on Child Labor

Standard

Meets International Standards

Age

Legislation

Minimum Age for Work

Yes

14

Article 166 of the Labor Code; Article 210 of the Child Code (24,25)

Minimum Age for Hazardous Work

Yes

18

Articles 210 and 353 of the Child Code; Article 1 of the Hazardous Occupations List (25,26)

Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children

Yes

 

Hazardous Occupations List (26)

Prohibition of Forced Labor

Yes

 

Articles 3 and 303 of the Labor Code; Articles 212 and 353 of the Child Code; Article 4 of the Law Relating to the Transportation and Trafficking of Minors (24,25,27)

Prohibition of Child Trafficking

Yes

 

Articles 3 and 303 of the Labor Code; Articles 2–4, 6, 18, and 22 of the Law Relating to the Transportation and Trafficking of Minors; Articles 212 and 352–353 of the Child Code; Articles 499–501 and 504 of the Penal Code (24,25,27,28)

Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Yes

 

Article 3 of the Law on the Prevention and Repression of Violence Against Women; Article 4 of the Law Relating to the Transportation and Trafficking of Minors; Articles 212 and 378 of the Child Code; Article 504 of the Penal Code (25,27-29)

Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities

Yes

 

Articles 212 and 353 of the Child Code; Article 4 of the Law Relating to the Transportation and Trafficking of Minors (25,27)

Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment

Yes

18

Article 6 of Law 2005-43 (30)

Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military

Yes

 

Article 6 of Law 2005-43; Title II, Article 32 of the Constitution (30,31)

Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups

Yes

 

Articles 2 and 4 of the Law Relating to the Transportation and Trafficking of Minors (27)

Compulsory Education Age

Yes

16

Article 24 of Act No 2003-17; Article 4 of the Law on the Prevention and Repression of Violence Against Women (29,32)

Free Public Education

Yes

 

Article 13 of the Constitution; Article 114 of the Child Code (25,31)

On February 26, 2020, Decree (Arrêté) no. 012 was passed, which increased the minimum age for apprenticeships from age 14 to age 15 in both the formal and informal sectors. (33) 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. (3,34) In addition, Article 22 of the Law Relating to the Transportation and Trafficking of Minors prescribes insufficient penalties, especially in comparison to punishments for other serious crimes, such as rape. (7,27)

III. Enforcement of Laws on Child Labor

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.

Table 5. Agencies Responsible for Child Labor Law Enforcement

Organization/Agency

Role

Ministry of Labor and Civil Service (MOLCS)

Enforces child labor laws and investigates labor code infractions, including those related to child labor. (11,35) Refers cases of child labor to Social Promotion Centers (Centres de Promotion Sociale or CPSs). (22) In 2020, MOLCS, with the support of UNICEF, organized a meeting with ministries involved in child labor prevention to discuss ways to curb child labor in sectors in which it is most prevalent. (23)

Ministry of the Interior and Public Security

Enforces criminal laws related to the protection of minors, including the worst forms of child labor, through the Central Office for the Protection of Minors (OCPM) under the Criminal Police Department. (36,37) Through OCPM, maintains a child trafficking database—Benin's Children (Enfants du Benin)—to track and process child trafficking cases, and implements standard operating procedures that seek to improve the quality of services, harmonize police activities, and create a stronger working relationship between the police and other actors involved in child protection. In 2020, OCPM continued to expand local offices throughout the country and provide police with specific training for addressing abuses of children. (3) Through its vice squad (Brigade des Moeurs), the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security addresses human trafficking for sexual exploitation. (34) Although the government allocated a budget of approximately $118,000 (70 million CFA) to OCPM in 2019, an increase of 34 percent from the previous year, the budget allocation for this reporting period is not yet available. (23)

Labor Law Enforcement

In 2020, labor law enforcement agencies in Benin took actions to combat child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Ministry of Labor and Civil Service that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including human resource allocation.

Table 6. Labor Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor

Overview of Labor Law Enforcement

2019

2020

Labor Inspectorate Funding

$207,000 (3)

$200,000 (23)

Number of Labor Inspectors

35 (22)

35 (23)

Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties

Yes (3)

Yes (24)

Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors

Unknown (3)

No (23)

Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor

N/A (3)

No (23)

Refresher Courses Provided

No (3)

No (23)

Number of Labor Inspections Conducted

746 (3)

2,070 (23)

Number Conducted at Worksite

Unknown (3)

2,070 (23)

Number of Child Labor Violations Found

463 (3)

1,273 (23)

Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed

2 (22)

0 (23)

Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected

2 (22)

N/A (23)

Routine Inspections Conducted

Yes (3)

Yes (23)

Routine Inspections Targeted

Yes (3)

Yes (23)

Unannounced Inspections Permitted

Yes (3)

Yes (24)

Unannounced Inspections Conducted

Unknown (3)

Yes (23)

Complaint Mechanism Exists

Yes (3)

Yes (23)

Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services

Yes (3)

Yes (23)

During the reporting period, officials conducted more than 2,000 inspections, a dramatic increase over the previous year. (23) This was due, in part, to the government decentralizing labor inspections and basing inspectors close to their designated inspection areas. Inspections were conducted in open-air markets, workshops, bars, restaurants, and other worksites. (23) Furthermore, UNICEF provided additional financial support that contributed to the increased number of inspections. (38) The inspection teams observed 1,273 violations of labor standards and provisions related to child labor, including failure to observe the minimum age of employment, lack of apprenticeship contracts, and poor hygiene and safety conditions. (23,39) However, the scope of labor law enforcement may not have been sufficient as there were no inspections conducted in the agriculture or mining sectors. (23) In addition to 35 full-time labor inspectors, the government has employed an additional 25 administrators and controllers to conduct labor inspections. (22)

The number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Benin’s workforce, which includes more than 3.5 million workers. According to ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in less developed economies, Benin would employ about 92 inspectors. (40,41) Sources indicate that the labor inspectorate's continued lack of financial resources hampered its ability to conduct labor inspections. (3,11) At the departmental level, the government conducted labor inspections in marketplaces, workshops, bars, restaurants, and other places in which children are exploited. Nonetheless, the national level labor inspection team did not have funding to supervise any inspections completed at the departmental level. (23)

Criminal Law Enforcement

In 2020, criminal law enforcement agencies in Benin took actions to combat child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of the criminal enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including training for criminal investigators.

Table 7. Criminal Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor

Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement

2019

2020

Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators

Unknown (3)

No (23)

Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor

Yes (3)

N/A (23)

Refresher Courses Provided

Yes (22,37)

No (23)

Number of Investigations

2 (3)

Unknown (23)

Number of Violations Found

Unknown (3)

Unknown (23)

Number of Prosecutions Initiated

Unknown (3)

Unknown (23)

Number of Convictions

2 (3)

Unknown (23)

Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to The Worst Forms of Child Labor

Unknown (3)

No (23)

Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services

No (3)

Yes (23)

The government has a mechanism to enable criminal authorities and social services to reciprocally refer children found in the worst forms of child labor and human trafficking, and civil servants regularly refer cases. The government also uses its child assistance hotline, which was launched in 2020, to refer cases of child labor, particularly those involving domestic servitude, because the hotline allows for anonymous tips. (23) The government did not provide information on its criminal law enforcement efforts regarding the number of investigations, the number of violations found, the number of prosecutions initiated, or the number of convictions for the purpose of this report. (23)

IV. Coordination of Government Efforts on Child Labor

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 coordination among agencies.

Table 8. Key Mechanisms to Coordinate Government Efforts on Child Labor

Coordinating Body

Role & Description

National Executive Committee to Combat Child Labor (Comite Directeur National de Lutte contre le Travail des Enfants, CDN)

Coordinates efforts to address child labor, falls under the jurisdiction of MOLCS, and includes delegates from ILO, UNICEF, trade unions, local NGOs, and other government ministries. (3) During the reporting period, CDN held a 3-day session, which was attended by 25 officials from government bodies, NGOs, trade unions, and employers’ associations. Participants reviewed and approved a communications plan to fight child labor with a focus on the worst forms of child labor. (23) Participants also discussed the situation of child labor in Benin’s open-space markets and new strategies to address it. (23)

National Monitoring and Coordination Working Group for Child Protection (CNSCPE)

Established by decree in 2006 and chaired by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance's Secretary General. Includes five technical committees: (1) trafficking and exploitation, (2) juvenile justice, (3) violence against children, (4) orphans and vulnerable children, and (5) early childhood. (23) Each committee has an action plan and may propose other activities to CNSCPE. Has 40 members drawn from various organizations involved with children's issues, including government ministries, NGOs, donor agencies, and international and bilateral technical partners. In June 2020, CNSCPE met for the first time since 2017. (23)

Inter-Ministerial Task Force to Combat Trafficking in Persons

Coordinates government efforts to address trafficking in persons through five committees: (1) prosecution, (2) prevention and protection, (3) statistics, (4) intellectual, and (5) policy. Led by the Ministry of Planning and Development and includes representatives of other key ministries and NGOs. (23,37,42) This Inter-Ministerial Task force did not meet in 2020. (23,42)

Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance

Offers social assistance and social support services to vulnerable populations and is the lead agency for child protection in Benin. (23,35) Through its Office of Family, Childhood, and Adolescence, provides assistance to trafficking victims by means of 85 CPS across the country. (7,12,22) Through the Family and Child Monitoring Office, maintains a database on child trafficking. (12) In 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance continued to assist foreign trafficking victims, predominantly minors, before repatriating them to their home countries. (15)

Research found that there is a lack of effective coordination among agencies responsible for addressing the needs of vulnerable children. (3,22,23)

V. Government Policies on Child Labor

The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including incorporating and implementing child labor elimination and prevention strategies into the Education Sector Plan.

Table 9. Key Policies Related to Child Labor

Policy

Description

National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor (2019–2023)

Aims to reduce the worst forms of child labor in Benin by 70 percent by the end of 2023. Targets six focus areas: (1) strengthening the legislative and institutional framework related to child labor; (2) information, awareness, and social mobilization; (3) education and training; (4) victim monitoring, protection and referral; (5) inspection and suppression; (6) institutional mechanisms, and monitoring and evaluation of the plan. (23) No action was taken to further this policy during the reporting period. (39)

Cooperative Agreement to Combat Cross-Border Trafficking

Aims to protect migrant children and victims of trans-border human trafficking. On December 23, 2019, the Government of Benin signed a tripartite cooperative agreement with Burkina Faso and Togo committing to cooperate and assist each other in the investigation of human trafficking offenses. (3) On January 7, 2020, 14 law enforcement and government officials from Benin and Togo, with the support of international partners, held a 2-day session in Grand-Popo, Benin, to share experiences and discuss the challenges they face in fighting human trafficking in the two countries. Participants developed a Joint Strategic Actions Paper to strengthen the mechanism in place for combatting cross border human trafficking. (39)

National Action Plan to Fight Trafficking in Persons (2020–2024)

Aims to eradicate human trafficking in Benin by strengthening governmental systems and institutional framework. (43,44) During the reporting period, the government provided resources to implement this policy; however, research showed that these resources were inadequate. (39,44)

† Policy was approved during the reporting period.
‡ The government had other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor. (17)

The Education Sector Plan (2018–2030) aims to improve access to education, including targeted interventions for orphaned children, and children outside of the formal education system. However, the Education Sector Plan does not incorporate child labor elimination and prevention strategies. (6,45)

VI. Social Programs to Address Child Labor

In 2020, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including with the adequacy of programs to address the full scope of the problem.

Table 10. Key Social Programs to Address Child Labor

Program

Description

Government-Funded Shelters†

CPS provide food, shelter, education, and vocational training to vulnerable children, including victims of labor exploitation, in 85 centers. (3) OCPM also operates an interim care facility for human trafficking survivors before their placement in a long-term shelter. (3,7) During the reporting period, the government reduced the available capacity of these shelters in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the shelters continued to function and support child trafficking survivors. (23)

Government-Funded Retraining Centers†

MOLCS, with the assistance of UNICEF, maintains a vocational school program to train survivors of child trafficking in a trade. (46) During the reporting period, UNICEF continued to fund and implement the program in which survivors of child abuse, including child trafficking and exploitation, are schooled or trained in a trade through a program called Second Chance School (Ecole de Seconde Chance). (39)

Integrated National School Feeding Program (2017–2021)†

$87 million Government of Benin-funded program managed by the World Food Program. (47) In 2020, the program covered 3,995 schools across Benin and helped reduce the number of school dropouts. (23)

McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (2019–2022)

U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project implemented by Catholic Relief Services in the Alibori and Borgou regions. Aims to improve the literacy and attendance of school-age children, improve the health and dietary practices of students, and increase government capacity of and investment in school meal programs. (48) In 2020, the Government of Benin continued to fund the largest portion of this program. (23,49)

Rapid Pro

In November 2018, the government and UNICEF launched a platform (Rapid Pro) to allow parents to declare births through SMS text message, sparing parents the challenges related to the issuance of birth certificates. In 2020, the program registered the births of 1,679 children less than 1 year old. (23)

† Program is funded by the Government of Benin.
‡ The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (11,50-52)

Although the Government of Benin has implemented programs to protect children from human trafficking, research was unable to determine whether the government implements programs to assist children engaged in other worst forms of child labor, including in domestic work, commercial sexual exploitation, and agriculture. (37)

VII. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor

Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Benin (Table 11).

Table 11. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor

Area

Suggested Action

Year(s) Suggested

Legal Framework

Raise the minimum age for work to the age up to which education is compulsory.

2018 – 2020

 

Create meaningful penalties for the transport and trafficking of minors and crimes involving labor exploitation.

2014 – 2020

Enforcement

Provide initial training and refresher courses on child labor for labor inspectors and criminal law enforcement officials.

2013 – 2020

 

Increase financial resources to enforce laws against child labor.

2009 – 2020

 

Increase the number of labor inspectors to meet the ILO's technical advice.

2015 – 2020

 

Conduct inspections in sectors where the highest occurrence of child labor is known to occur, including in areas outside of major urban areas.

2019 – 2020

 

Publish criminal law enforcement data as it relates to the worst forms of child labor, including the number of investigations, violations found, prosecutions initiated, number of convictions, and whether penalties were imposed for violations related to the worst forms of child labor.

2009-2020

Coordination

Ensure that coordinating bodies meet and report their activities, including the Inter-Ministerial Task Force to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

2017 – 2020

 

Ensure effective coordination among agencies on procedures and social services for abused and vulnerable children.

2019 – 2020

Government Policies

Ensure that existing policies addressing child labor are implemented as intended including the National Action Plans against both the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Trafficking in Persons.

2018 – 2020

 

Ensure child labor elimination and prevention strategies are integrated into the Education Sector Plan.

2010 – 2020

Social Programs

Increase access to education by ensuring the safety of children in schools, providing access to schools for children with disabilities, providing reliable transportation to schools, and increasing birth registration rates.

2010 – 2020

 

Institute programs to address the worst forms of child labor, including in domestic work, commercial sexual exploitation, and agriculture; and monitor and report annually on the progress of these programs.

2010 – 2020

References
  1. ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Observation concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Benin (ratification: 2001). 2019. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3780429
  2. Trusted Clothes. Little fingers: Child labour in the garment industry. April 2, 2017. https://www.trustedclothes.com/blog/2017/04/02/little-fingers-child-labour-in-the-garment-industry/
  3. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. Reporting. January 27, 2020.
  4. UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 2021. For more information, please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report. http://data.uis.unesco.org/
  5. ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), 2011–2012. Analysis received March 2021. Please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
  6. Signarbieux, Ludovic. Benin is giving more children a chance at education. Global Partnership for Education, February 20, 2019. https://www.globalpartnership.org/blog/benin-giving-more-children-chance-education
  7. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 23, 2018.
  8. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. Reporting. January 25, 2019.
  9. Josaphat. Travail des enfants: L’éternel phénomène toujours irrésolu au Bénin. Benin Web TV, May 20, 2017. Source on file.
  10. UNICEF Benin. Video; Vie des enfants dans les marchés Dantokpa, Ouando et Arzèkè du Bénin. January 20, 2017. Source on file.
  11. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. Reporting. January 20, 2017.
  12. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. Reporting. March 26, 2019.
  13. UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Concluding observations on the combined third to fifth periodic reports of Benin. February 25, 2016: Report No. CRC/C/BEN/CO/3-5. https://undocs.org/CRC/C/BEN/CO/3-5
  14. Government of Benin. Enquête sur la prostitution et la pornographie impliquant les enfants dans les villes de Cotonou et de Malanville. June 2016. Source on file.
  15. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2020: Benin. Washington, DC, June 26, 2020. https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report-2020/
  16. UN Human Rights Council. Compilation on Benin - Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. August 24, 2017: A/HRC/WG.6/28/BEN/2. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G17/247/72/PDF/G1724772.pdf
  17. Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children. Country report for Benin. February 2016. http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/progress/country-reports/benin.html
  18. U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2019: Benin. Washington, DC, March 11, 2020. https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/benin/
  19. Government of Benin. POLITIQUE NATIONALE DE PROTECTION ET D’INTEGRATION DES PERSONNES HANDICAPEES. Enacted: 2011. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=108213&p_country=BEN&p_count=6
  20. UN Human Rights Council. Summary of stakeholders’ submissions on Benin - Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. August 8, 2017: A/HRC/WG.6/28/BEN/3. Source on file.
  21. UNICEF Data. "Benin" in Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women. Accessed February 2, 2018. https://data.unicef.org/country/ben/
  22. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. E-mail communications with DOL official. June 16, 2020.
  23. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. Reporting. January 21, 2021.
  24. Government of Benin. Code du travail, Loi n° 98-004. Enacted: January 27, 1998. https://fonacbenin.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/1998_loi-portant-code-du-travail.pdf
  25. Government of Benin. Code de l’enfant en République du Bénin, Loi n° 2015-08. Enacted: January 23, 2015. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/99941/119603/F-860169827/BEN-99941.pdf
  26. Government of Benin. Liste des travaux dangereux interdits aux enfants en République du Bénin, Décret n° 200-029. Enacted: January 31, 2011. Source on file.
  27. Government of Benin. Conditions de déplacement des mineurs et répression de la traite d'enfants en République du Bénin, Loi n° 2006-04. Enacted: April 10, 2006. http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/SERIAL/73266/74783/F93417100/BEN73266.pdf
  28. Government of Benin. Code pénal, Loi n° 2018-16. Enacted: December 28, 2018. Source on file.
  29. Government of Benin. Prévention et Répression des Violences Faites aux Femmes, Loi n° 2011-26. Enacted: January 9, 2012. http://www.bj.undp.org/content/dam/benin/docs/emancipationdesfemes/violences-faites-aux-femmes.pdf
  30. Government of Benin. Statut Général des Personnels Militaires des Forces Armées Béninoises, Loi n° 2005-43. Enacted: June 26, 2006. Source on file.
  31. Government of Benin. Constitution of the Republic of Benin. Enacted: 1990. Source on file.
  32. Government of Benin. Orientation de l'Éducation Nationale en République du Bénin, Loi n° 2003-17. Enacted: November 11, 2003. http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/afrique/benin-loi-17-2003.htm
  33. Government of Benin. Portant fixation de l'age minimum d'access a l'apprentissage et de la duree de l'apprentissage des metier artisanaux. February 26, 2020. Source on file.
  34. ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Observation convening Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Benin (ratification: 2001). Published: 2019. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3780443
  35. Government of Benin. Normes du Travail au Bénin. Cotonou, Ministère du Travail, de la Fonction Publique, et des Affaires Sociales. 2017. Source on file.
  36. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2018: Benin. Washington, DC, June 2018. https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-trafficking-in-persons-report/benin/
  37. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. Reporting. February 14, 2020.
  38. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou official. E-mail correspondence to USDOL official. April 26, 2021.
  39. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 26, 2021.
  40. CIA. The World Factbook. Accessed June 7, 2017. Please see “Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/benin/
  41. UN. World Economic Situation and Prospects 2017 Statistical Annex. 2017. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/publication/2017wesp_full_en.pdf
  42. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. Reporting. February 19, 2021.
  43. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Benin. Washington, DC, June 20, 2019. https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report/benin/
  44. Government of Benin. 2020–2024 ACTION PLAN TO FIGHT TRAFFICKING IN BENIN. 2020. Source on file.
  45. Government of Benin. Plan Sectoriel de l'Education Post 2015 (2018–2030). Ministère des Enseignements Maternel et Primaire. April 2018. https://www.globalpartnership.org/fr/content/plan-sectoriel-de-leducation-2018-2030-du-benin
  46. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 12, 2016.
  47. Fominyen, George. Eat, grow, study: School feeding in Africa. World Food Programme, March 1, 2019. https://insight.wfp.org/eat-grow-study-school-feeding-in-africa-e255da108eb0
  48. USDA official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. April 1, 2019.
  49. World Food Program. Benin Strategic Plan Annual Session. Rome. May 19, 2019. https://www.wfp.org/operations/bj02-benin-country-strategic-plan-2019-2023
  50. U.S. Embassy- Cotonou. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 21, 2017.
  51. Government of Benin. Programme d'Action du Gouvernement 2016–2021. 2016. Source on file.
  52. ILO-IPEC Geneva official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 9, 2017.