In 2020, Chad made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Government of Chad adopted a law extending fundamental protections to Chad's refugees and asylum seekers, including the right to access healthcare and education. The government also adopted Ordinance No. 002-PR-2020, which organizes a biometric population registry for births, marriages, and divorces. Lastly, Chad hosted a national workshop to develop a 2021–2026 nationwide school feeding program action plan. However, children in Chad are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including forced labor in cattle herding and domestic work, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking. In addition, the government did not provide clear 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, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking. (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 |
48.8 (Unavailable) |
|
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
49.5 |
|
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
28.4 |
|
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
40.6 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2018, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2021. (4)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), 2014–2015. (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 |
Cultivating and harvesting crops, including rice and corn (6,7) |
|
Production of charcoal (6,7) |
|
|
Herding livestock, including camels and cattle (3,7-9) |
|
|
Fishing, including catching, smoking, and selling fish (7) |
|
|
Industry |
Brick making (10) |
|
Carpentry (7) |
|
|
Gold mining† (1,7,9) |
|
|
Services |
Domestic work (2,7) |
|
Working in restaurants as barmaids and servers (3,7) |
|
|
Street work, including vending, garbage scavenging, and carrying heavy loads† (3,6,7,10,11) |
|
|
Begging† (2,7) |
|
|
Working as tailors and seamstresses (10) |
|
|
Working in auto repair shops (6) |
|
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (3,7,9) |
|
Forced labor in agriculture, begging, cattle herding, domestic work, fishing, gold mining, charcoal production, and street vending, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking (2,3,7,9) |
† 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. (3,9) 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. (9) 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. (3,9,12) Domestically, boys sent to Koranic schools, or mouhadjirin, may be forced to beg and surrender the money they receive to their teachers. (2,3,7,9) 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. (9,13)
Chad hosts more than 480,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the second largest per-capita population in Africa, more than half of whom are children. Refugee children from the Central African Republic are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. (9,14-17) The Boko Haram insurgency, flooding, and multiple epidemics have internally displaced 236,426 Chadians, 174,000 of whom live in the Lake Chad borderlands. (18-20) 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. (1,13,18,19)
Both the Constitution and the Law Orienting the Education System mandate free and compulsory education in Chad. (21,22) 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. (23) However, children may travel long distances due to a shortage of schools, classrooms, and teachers. (3,24,25) Girls experience significantly higher dropout rates than boys, while children with disabilities may be unable to attend school altogether. (26-28) Some schools do not offer all grade levels, while others require payment of cost-prohibitive fees. (3,6,7) Following a nationwide lockdown to mitigate community transmission of COVID-19, classes resumed in October 2020 to allow students to complete the 2019–2020 academic year. (29) In the southeast, however, intense flooding in August and September prevented more than 37,772 primary-aged students from returning to school. (30,31) In Chad's eastern Lac province, which also faces repeated incursions from Boko Haram, 85 percent of primary-age children were out of school. (26)Moreover, birth certificates may be required for enrollment in school, although this rule is not consistently enforced, especially in rural areas. (3) Only 12 percent of children nationwide are registered at birth, with some areas experiencing birth registration rates as low as 5 percent. (6,32)
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 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 (33,34) |
|
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Articles 6–7 of the Decree Relating to Child Labor (33) |
|
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 (33,35) |
|
|
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 (22,34-36) |
|
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Articles 3, 5, 6.2, and 7.1 of the President's Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons; Articles 10 and 330–331 of the Penal Code (35,36) |
|
|
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 (35-37) |
|
|
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 (35,36,38-40) |
|
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; Article 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 (35,36,38,41) |
|
|
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 (35,36,39) |
|
|
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
16‡ |
Articles 21, 23, 25, and 28 of the Law Orienting the Education System; Article 35 of the Constitution (21,22) |
|
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Article 9 of the Law Orienting the Education System; Article 35 of the Constitution (21,22) |
‡ Age calculated based on available information (21)
On December 23, 2020, the government adopted Law No 027/PR/2020: Asylum in the Republic of Chad. The legislation extends fundamental protections to Chad's 480,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, including access to education. (7,42,43)The law conforms to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Organization of African Unity’s Convention on Refugees, and will be implemented in 2021–2022. (7,42,43)The legislation also mandates access to public health systems, social services, and the courts. (43) The government also adopted Ordinance No. 002-PR-2020, which organizes a biometric population registry for births, marriages, and divorces. (7)
Chadian jurisprudence does not currently prohibit the use, offering, or procuring of children for illicit activities. While the draft Child Protection Code (CPC) prohibits the use of children for illicit activities, the legislation has not been adopted. (2,6-8,44-46) Additional laws enhancing protections for human trafficking victims and children working in the informal sector, including amendments to the Family Code the Labor Code, are likewise pending adoption. (7,46) Finally, 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. (8,21,34)
The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the authority 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. (3) Administers a directorate charged with combating the worst forms of child labor, and maintains a specific point of contact to assist in coordinating child protection and human trafficking issues. (3) |
|
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 child labor laws. (3) |
|
National Police's Child Protection Brigade (CPB) |
Enforces and investigates allegations of child exploitation, including human trafficking and the worst forms of child labor, and acts as the coordinating institution for government responses. (1,6) Evacuates children to its headquarters in N'Djamena, from where they may be moved to Ministry of Women, Childhood Protection and National Solidarity (MWCPNS) temporary shelters in Koundoul. (3) Included 100 "focal points" spread throughout all 23 provinces during the reporting period. These focal points are not trained investigators, but they are responsible for coordinating investigations with hub offices and referring allegations to investigators. (3,7) The 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. (13) Allegations may be submitted directly by the public or by MOPS, MWCPNS, or MOJ. The government's regional child protection technical committees also identify and refer child trafficking victims to the CPB. (13) The CPB's central offices are located in Chad's largest cities (N'Djamena, Moundou, Sarh, Mongo, Mao, Abéché, and Lai). (3,7,13) However, research indicates that the CPB is not well known by the public, thus limiting its impact. (3,48) |
Labor Law Enforcement
Research did not find information on whether labor law enforcement agencies in Chad took actions to combat child labor. (3)
|
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Number of Labor Inspectors |
30 (3) |
36 (7) |
|
Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties |
No (34) |
No (34) |
|
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
Yes (3) |
No (7) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
No (3) |
No (7) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
No (3) |
Yes (7) |
|
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Number Conducted at Worksite |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Routine Inspections Targeted |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (34) |
Yes (34) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
Yes (3) |
Yes (7) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (3) |
Yes (7) |
The Ministry of Public Service, Employment, and Social Dialogue (MOPS) recruited six new labor inspectors in 2020. (7) In addition to 36 full-time inspectors, MOPS employs 50 labor controllers who act in an advisory role (but are unable conduct inspections themselves). (7) The ILO funded one refresher course related to child labor in 2020. However, the number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Chad’s workforce, which includes approximately 5.6 million workers. (2,49,50)According to the ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in less developed economies, Chad would employ about 140 labor inspectors. (2,49,50) 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. (7)
The MOPS’ budget included labor inspectorate funding, but did not specify the amount. (7) Ongoing austerity measures, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, hindered the government's ability to conduct worksite inspections. (7) Labor inspectors lacked sufficient resources, including transportation, to conduct investigations outside the city in which they are based. (3,6,7,9) Research indicates that the informal sector, in which many children work, is also largely unmonitored. (2,24) In 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 victims' families, including victims of forced labor. (13) Victims may file civil suits to seek damages from traffickers. (7)In some cases, these children are victims of forced labor.(7)
Criminal Law Enforcement
Research did not find information on whether criminal law enforcement agencies in Chad took actions to combat child labor.
|
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Yes (3) |
No (7) |
|
Number of Investigations |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Number of Violations Found |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Number of Convictions |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to The Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (3) |
Unknown (7) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (3) |
Yes (7) |
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. (3,7) Therefore, the government did not provide clear information on its criminal law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report. (3) Judiciary and enforcement agencies have not been fully trained on the 2018 President’s Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons; therefore, some perpetrators of human trafficking were released. (47,51,52) Furthermore, child victims may be housed with their traffickers due to a lack of available service providers. (52)
Civil society organizations typically assist with providing temporary shelter, legal assistance, and family reintegration services; they also track prosecutions and convictions. (3,9) A lack of infrastructure, erratic and insufficient funding allocations, and under-enforcement of existing penalties also pose barriers to enforcement. (3,24,47)
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 funding and efficacy in accomplishing 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 MWCPNS's Child Protection Directorate and includes representatives from four other ministries, including MOPS. (48) The group did not meet during the reporting period. (3) |
|
Inter-Ministerial 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. Conducts awareness-raising activities and training in the military. (3) A child soldiers task force, comprising UNICEF, the Ministry of Defense, MOJ, and MWCPNS, periodically screens recruitment pools for minimum age requirement violations. There is no indication that the government recruits or uses child soldiers.(13) Research was unable to determine whether the committee was active during the reporting period.(3) |
|
MWCPNS's Regional Child Protection Committees |
Coordinate regional government efforts to address the worst forms of child labor and refer victims, as appropriate. (1,13,47) Members include judiciary, police, labor inspectors, educators, civil society, and social services providers. (47) Help identify and refer child trafficking victims to appropriate officials.(13,53) Celebrated the "Day of the African Child" in June 2020 with at-risk youth at the Dakouna Espoir Welcome Center. The event focused on providing access to education for all children and underlining the importance of education to the economic, social and cultural development of all societies. (7) However, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted government budgets and restrictions on nonessential business exacerbated prevailing capacity constraints. A lack of funding and personnel limited further activities. (7) |
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 and coordinated interagency enforcement of the 2018 President's Ordinance on Trafficking in Persons. (1,3) Includes provisions for training members of the courts, local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, members of civil society, and members of enforcement agencies. (13) The 2018 law also designates the National Committee to Fight Against Trafficking to design the national trafficking action plan. (47,51) The committee was not established during the reporting period. (7,13,47) |
|
Ministry of Economy and Development Planning (MEDP) Policies |
Includes the 5-Year Plan for Development (2016–2020), which aims 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 combating the worst forms of child labor. (52,54) Vision 2030, another MEDP policy, aims to increase educational opportunities, establish social protection policies, and implement a national employment policy with a youth focus. (55) Research was unable to determine whether either policy was active during the reporting period. |
|
Interim Education Plan (2018–2020) |
Includes 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. (7,56,57) In 2020, the government announced a 1-year extension of the plan. (7,57) Research was unable to determine whether the policy was active during the reporting period. (7) |
|
National Biometric Population Registry† |
Adopted in 2020 under Ordinance No. 002-PR-2020, which creates a national biometric population registry and permits the organization of civil registry in the Republic of Chad, including for births, marriages, and divorces. A dedicated database will facilitate identification of victims and perpetrators of child labor. (7,58) |
|
Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework † |
Integrates schools in refugee camps into Chad's national education system, per UNHCR's Global Compact on Refugees Framework. (59) 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, prefecture levels. (59) These efforts are 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. (59,60) 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. (42,59,61) |
† The policy was adopted during the reporting period.
‡ The government had other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor. (6,62,63)
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. (7)
In 2020, 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 funding and adequacy of programs to address the full scope of the problem.
|
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
|
World Bank-Funded Projects |
Aims to improve safety nets and provide access to basic services. Includes: Safety Nets Project (2016–2020), a $10 million project to provide conditional cash transfers and cash-to-work programs; Refugees and Host Communities Support (2018–2023), a $60 million project to improve access to health and education services for refugees and host communities by rehabilitating and constructing primary schools; the Education Sector Reform Project Phase 2 (2013–2020), a $65 million project to improve education conditions in primary and secondary schools; and the Sahel Women Empowerment and Demographic Dividend–AF Phase 2 (2014–2023), a $170 million project to provide girls, adolescents, and women access to quality education. By November 2020, the Sahel Women Empowerment program had reached 158,181 vulnerable girls with school kits, housing, payment of school fees, and academic support. (64) By the end of the reporting period, the Education Sector Reform project had recruited and trained 10,965 teachers, and the primary completion rate in targeted areas nearly doubled. (61,64-68) |
|
UNICEF Programs |
Implemented distance learning programs in the wake of pandemic-related school closures during the reporting period. To this end, UNICEF targeted 5,405 secondary school students in N'Djamena, Logone Oriental, Moyen Chari and Lac provinces with radio and TV education. (30) UNICEF also supported the Ministry of Education in distributing school supplies to 5,448 refugees, IDPs, and host community students. In 2020, a total of 27,893 children in Lac province, and 59,209 across all provinces, received school supplies. (30) UNICEF's $21 million Education Cannot Wait (2020–2022) program supports education for 230,000 at-risk children. (69) 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. (56,69) Interventions include early childhood education initiatives, and out-of-school adolescent children (ages 9 to 14) will benefit from non-formal education and literacy programs. (56,69) |
|
Ministry of Women, Childhood Protection and National Solidarity (MWCPNS)† |
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. (6,47) With UNICEF and local NGO support, MWCPNS-run shelters provide temporary assistance to victims of child trafficking, including food, education, medical and psychological care, and reintegration services. (1,3) The National Solidarity Fund, maintained by the Prime Minister's Office, funds temporary shelter or reunification assistance for victims. (70) Child Protection Directorates at various ministries and the CPB work together to provide support and reintegration services to victims of exploitation. (3) Shelters continued to provide victim services during the reporting period. (3) |
|
UNDAF (2017–2021) |
Aims to provide access to quality education for children who are school aged, refugees, and vulnerable, and to improve social protection and promote good governance. (71) Research was unable to determine whether the program was implemented during the reporting period. |
|
WFP Strategic Plan (2019–2023) |
$1.3 billion program funded by WFP to improve food security and educational outcomes. Aims to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Education, distribute school lunches to crisis-affected areas, and disperse cash to girls who are attending school. (72) In December 2020, the WFP, Regional Centre of Excellence against Hunger and Malnutrition, and the Government of Chad hosted a national workshop to create a joint 2021–2026 action plan to create a nationwide school feeding program. The program aims to provide school children with locally-sourced school meals. (73) The workshop convened 45 participants from key line ministries and institutions involved in the implementation of the National Policy for School Feeding, Nutrition and Health, the Global Child Nutrition Forum, and the International Food Policy Research Institute. (73) |
† Program is funded by the Government of Chad.
‡ The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (47)
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. (3,7) Although Chad has programs that target child labor, their scope is insufficient to adequately address the extent of the problem, particularly the use of child labor in herding cattle, forced child labor in domestic work, and commercial sexual exploitation. (74)
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 – 2020 |
|
Ratify pending legislation enhancing protections for human trafficking victims and children working in the informal sector, including the Child Protection Code, the Family Code, and amendments to the Labor Code. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Raise the minimum age for work to the age up to which education is compulsory. |
2018 – 2020 |
|
|
Enforcement |
Ensure that the roles of enforcement agencies are well-known and understood by the public. |
2016 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that law enforcement agencies receive sufficient resources, including training, to carry out their mandate. |
2020 |
|
|
Strengthen the labor inspectorate by authorizing inspectors to assess penalties, and by providing inspectors with sufficient resources, including training, to conduct inspections in both the formal and informal sectors. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
|
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, and convictions obtained. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
|
Significantly increase the number of labor inspectors to meet the ILO technical advice. |
2012 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that criminal law enforcement agencies are sufficiently funded, law enforcement officers are trained, and existing penalties are enforced according to the law. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure a sufficient number of service providers are available for child victims so victims are not housed with their traffickers. |
2020 |
|
|
Coordination |
Ensure that coordinating committees receive adequate resources to carry out their mandates. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
Government Policies |
Adopt a policy to combat all relevant worst forms of child labor in Chad and ensure that existing policies are implemented. |
2009 – 2020 |
|
Publish activities undertaken to implement key policies related to child labor to address child labor during the reporting period. |
2020 |
|
|
Social Programs |
Ensure access to education for all children by eliminating school-related fees; ensure that schools are safe; and increase the number of schools, grade levels, classrooms, and teachers available throughout the country, including for children in refugee camps. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that all children are issued birth certificates, which may be required for school enrollment. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that existing programs receive adequate funding to support victims of child labor throughout the country, and that programs are implemented as intended. |
2016 – 2020 |
|
|
Establish or expand programs to provide services to children engaged in the worst forms of child labor, such as the use of forced child labor in herding cattle, domestic work, and commercial sexual exploitation. |
2009 – 2020 |
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Chad. Washington, DC, June 24, 2019.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report/chad/ - ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Direct Request concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Chad (ratification: 2000). Published: 2018.
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https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:4061180
