In 2020, Burundi made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government passed a new labor code that made important progress in bringing Burundi's legal framework in line with international standards, such as raising the minimum age for work to age 16 and the minimum age for light work to age 15. Law enforcement authorities also implemented stringent measures to monitor the travel of unaccompanied children and identify cases of child trafficking. Meanwhile, the government launched two new programs to improve counter-trafficking capacity in Burundi and provide work alternatives to youth vulnerable to exploitation. However, children in Burundi are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in gold mining. Burundi lacks a compulsory education age that is equal to the minimum age for work and the government failed to provide comprehensive criminal law enforcement data related to the worst forms of child labor. Other challenges remain, including a lack of resources to conduct labor inspections and criminal investigations; a lack of well-trained educators and infrastructure in the education sector; and insufficient social programs to address child labor.
Children in Burundi are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in gold mining. (1-3) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Burundi. 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 |
33.2 (Unavailable) |
|
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
69.4 |
|
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
30.5 |
|
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
59.4 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2019, 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), 2016–2017. (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 |
Production of tea, coffee, sugarcane, cotton, palm oil, peat, potatoes, and rice (1,2,6-8) |
|
Fishing, including preparing materials and equipment, managing heavy fishing nets, preparing meals for fishermen, loading and unloading materials from vessels, and cleaning the vessels (1,2,6-11) |
|
|
Herding and feeding livestock (1,2,6,7) |
|
|
Industry |
Extracting,† washing, and transporting minerals in mines and quarries, including artisanal gold mines (1,2,6) |
|
Making and transporting bricks (2,7) |
|
|
Manufacturing, including soldering, welding, processing plastics and metals, and helping in garages and workshops (8) |
|
|
Services |
Domestic work (2,6-8) |
|
Street vending, including selling food, newspapers, cigarettes, and used clothes and shoes (1,2,6) |
|
|
Begging (2,7,8,12) |
|
|
Working in hotels and restaurants, including cooking, dishwashing, and waiting tables (1,2,7) |
|
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (3,13) |
|
Domestic work as a result of human trafficking (2,3,13) |
|
|
Forced labor in agriculture, mining, charcoal production, construction, fishing, street vending, and begging, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,2,7,9,13,14) |
† 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.
Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 90 percent of its citizens engaged in subsistence agriculture, and approximately 80 percent of the workforce employed in the informal economy. (1,15,16) Poverty often results in Burundian children leaving school for paid work. (17) During the 2017–2018 school year alone, the cycle for which the most recent data are available, 171,652 children dropped out of school, with many believed to have entered domestic work. (18)
Burundi is a source country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking abroad, and children are trafficked within the country from rural areas for domestic work and commercial sexual exploitation. There were no documented cases of child sex tourism in Burundi during the reporting period. (3,13,15) Reports indicate that an increasing number of children from the Batwa ethnic group are being transported from rural areas into Bujumbura with promises of work and subsequently are exploited. (2) Women who offer room and board to children sometimes force the children into commercial sexual exploitation to pay expenses. (3,13,19) Burundian girls are also trafficked internationally for commercial sexual exploitation in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and countries in the Middle East. (3,7,13,19,20) Evidence also suggests that children are trafficked to Tanzania for work in agriculture and for domestic work. (3)
Children work entire days transplanting rice and typically drop out of school in the pre-harvest season to guard rice plantations from birds. Children are also utilized as lookouts in the forestry industry to report illegal woodcutting or theft, placing them in potentially dangerous situations when thieves are present. (8) In fishing communities near Lake Tanganyika, boys are often engaged in fishing activities without pay while girls work as cooks or domestic employees and are at risk of sexual exploitation. (3,8) Civil society organizations indicate that up to 15 percent of children who are school dropouts in urban centers work in the charcoal trade, either packing, loading, and unpacking charcoal or working in fire pits. (8)
Although the government abolished school fees in 2012, families are often asked to pay for supplies, secondary school fees, and school building maintenance costs, which have prevented many children from accessing free public schooling. (2) A dearth of well-trained educators and poor infrastructure have also limited educational opportunity. For example, the lack of gender-separated bathrooms can contribute to lower attendance rates among girls. (2) Children with disabilities and mobility issues face discrimination in schools and a lack of appropriate materials and infrastructure, limiting access to education. (21) Moreover, because birth certificates are required to attend school, many unregistered children, in particular children of the Batwa ethnic group, remain out of school and vulnerable to child labor. (1,2,6,15)
Burundi 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 Burundi’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the lack of criminal penalties for forced labor.
|
Standard |
Meets International Standards |
Age |
Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Age for Work |
Yes |
16 |
Articles 2 and 10 of the Labor Code; Article 3 of the Ministerial Ordinance to Regulate Child Labor (22,23) |
|
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Articles 270 and 279 of the Labor Code; Article 13 of the Ministerial Ordinance to Regulate Child Labor (22,23) |
|
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
Yes |
Articles 9–15 of the Ministerial Ordinance to Regulate Child Labor (22) |
|
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
No |
Articles 7, 8, and 617 of the Labor Code; Articles 4 and 10 of the Trafficking in Persons Law; Article 545 of the Penal Code (23-25) |
|
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Article 12 of the Labor Code; Articles 4–6 and 10 of the Trafficking in Persons Law; Article 197 of the Penal Code (23-25) |
|
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Yes |
Article 12 of the Labor Code; Articles 519, 542-544 of the Penal Code; Articles 4 and 10 of the Trafficking in Persons Law (23-25) |
|
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
No |
Article 12 and 618 of the Labor Code (23,25) |
|
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
Yes |
18 |
Article 6(c) of the National Defense Troops Law (26) |
|
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
N/A* |
||
|
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
No |
Article 12 of the Labor Code; Articles 200.2.27 and 200.5.7 of the Penal Code (23,25) |
|
|
Compulsory Education Age |
No |
15‡ |
Article 35 of the Law on Basic and Secondary Education (27) |
|
Free Public Education |
No |
Article 53 of the Constitution; Articles 17, 35, and 47 of the Law on Basic and Secondary Education (27,28) |
‡ Age calculated based on available information (27)
* No conscription (26)
In November 2020, Burundi enacted a new Labor Code, notably establishing 15 as the minimum age for light work, with Ministerial Order 630 still outlining the types of light work permissible for underage children. (3,22,23) The Code also extends protections to children working in the informal sector. (23) Burundi’s new Labor Code prohibits forced labor in any form and prohibits the use, recruitment, or offering of children in illicit activities, notably for the production and trafficking of drugs. (23) However, the Labor Code only imposes fines for violations of forced labor and the use of children in illicit activities. (23,25)
The prohibitions against hazardous work are not comprehensive, as they fail to cover agriculture, an area of work in which there is evidence of children working with dangerous machinery, equipment, and tools. (7,22)
Although the Constitution prohibits the use of children in armed conflict, the Penal Code criminalizes only the use of children under age 15 in armed conflict, leaving children between the ages of 15 and 18 vulnerable to this worst form of child labor. (25,29) However, Burundian law does prohibit the recruitment of children under age 18 by state armed forces, and available evidence indicates that the government continued to comply with this provision. (1,15,16)
Although the Law on Basic and Secondary Education provides for guaranteed, free education, it relies on funding from families. (27) Burundi implemented education reforms beginning in 2014 that have continued through the present reporting period because of delays caused by civil unrest in 2015. Burundi's education reform plans established that basic education is compulsory through the first 9 years of education, beginning when a child turns 6 years old. (30-31) The compulsory education age however is less than the minimum age for work, making children between the ages of 15 and 16 vulnerable to labor exploitation.
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, Labor, and Employment |
Administers and enforces all labor laws, including those on child labor, through the Inspector General of Work and Social Security. (32) |
|
Ministry of Interior, Community Development and Public Security |
Conducts criminal investigations on the worst forms of child labor, including forced child labor, child trafficking, and the use of children in illicit activities. Through the Burundi National Police's Unit for the Protection of Minors and Morals, protects children from commercial sexual exploitation, illicit activity, forced labor, and military recruitment. (1,2,7,13,16) |
|
Ministry of Justice |
Prosecutes cases of the worst forms of child labor through its General Prosecutor's Office. (1,2,7) |
|
Ministry of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights, and Gender |
Coordinates, monitors, and oversees children's advocacy and family services programs conducted by public and private organizations. Develops policies and national laws on the promotion and protection of children and families. (33,34) Refers cases to police officers and judicial officials for enforcement through its 89 Child Protection Committees at local levels; victims are referred to local NGOs for social services. (2,33,34) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2020, labor law enforcement agencies in Burundi took actions to combat child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Ministry of Public Service, Labor, and Employment that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including an insufficient number of labor inspectors.
|
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
$2,650 (2) |
$2,589 (8) |
|
Number of Labor Inspectors |
43 (2) |
38 (8) |
|
Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties |
Yes (23) |
Yes (23) |
|
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
No (2) |
Yes (8) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
N/A |
N/A (8) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
No (2) |
Yes (8) |
|
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
397 (2) |
552 (8) |
|
Number Conducted at Worksite |
397 (2) |
552 (8) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
1 (2) |
0 (8) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
0 (2) |
0 (8) |
|
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
0 (2) |
0 (8) |
|
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Yes (2) |
Yes (8) |
|
Routine Inspections Targeted |
No (2) |
No (8) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (23) |
Yes (23) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Yes (2) |
Yes (8) |
|
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
Yes (2) |
Yes (8) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (2) |
Yes (8) |
Burundi lacks local inspectors in 14 of its 18 provinces. (2) Furthermore, the number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Burundi’s workforce, which includes approximately 5 million workers. According to the ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in less developed economies, Burundi would employ about 125 inspectors. (35,36) Although inspections were carried out throughout the country during the reporting period, reporting suggests that inspections are conducted exclusively in the formal sector, in which child labor is relatively rare, and exclude the agricultural sector. (2,37,38)
Government officials acknowledged the labor inspectorate budget in 2020 was not sufficient. (8) Research found that financial constraints hamper the Inspector General of Work and Social Security's enforcement of child labor laws because annual funding does not cover fuel costs, per diem, or office supplies, nor does the labor inspectorate own any vehicles. (6,7,39,40)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2020, criminal law enforcement agencies in Burundi 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 resource allocation.
|
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (8) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (2) |
N/A |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Unknown (2) |
Yes (13) |
|
Number of Investigations |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (8) |
|
Number of Violations Found |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (8) |
|
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (8) |
|
Number of Convictions |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (8) |
|
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to The Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (2) |
Yes (13) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (2) |
Yes (8) |
During the reporting period, the General Immigration Authority, which issues travel documents and is responsible for border security, increased scrutiny of traveling unaccompanied children to target the trafficking of children abroad. It also issued a notice preventing travel of Burundian citizens to Gulf countries without permission from the Authority. (13) Similarly, the Ministry of Public Service, Labor, and Employment issued a ministerial order to suspend all recruitment agencies operating in the country in response to what it described as an increase in human trafficking during the reporting period. (13)
Law enforcement indicated they had arrested 4 alleged traffickers, 3 of whom were convicted and sentenced to between 3 and 7 years in prison, and identified and referred to care 16 child trafficking victims as a result of increased efforts to analyze border crossing documents. (13) The IOM indicated it had identified 25 child trafficking victims during the reporting period, 6 of whom had been repatriated from Tanzania and 17 of whom were identified in route to Tanzania. The IOM partnered with the government to cover repatriation costs, and the government subsequently partnered with a local NGO to place the six returning children in shelters. (13) Meanwhile, UNICEF reported providing services to 403 children, a majority of whom were victims of human trafficking and child labor. (8,13)
The government did not provide complete information on its criminal law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report. (8)
Despite its efforts, the government lacked resources to fully implement criminal law enforcement strategies. For example, while the Burundi National Police Unit for the Protection of Minors and Morals was responsible for the investigation of trafficking in persons, sex trafficking, and child and forced labor issues, it lacked capacity and often did not receive referrals from other police units. (19) The government acknowledged that officials are unfamiliar with the 2014 anti-trafficking law and thus are not sufficiently familiar with the concepts of the worst forms of child labor. However, the government translated the 2014 anti-trafficking law into Kirundi and the government saw an increase in cases accurately filed and charged under the law. (13,38) Agencies lacked resources necessary to respond to victims' needs and had to rely primarily on services from civil society and international organizations. (19) Furthermore, Burundi lacks formal guidance for authorities on how to respond to cases potentially involving the worst forms of child labor, and law enforcement lacked sufficient training to properly identify victims. Although a referral mechanism between law enforcement and social services exists, civil society organizations indicate it is utilized on an ad hoc basis, thus making it difficult to ensure victims receive services. (3)
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 resource allocation.
|
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
|---|---|
|
Multi-Sector Committee for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
National coordination body organized by the Ministry of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, and the Child and Family Department, that works with local non-governmental organizations to address child protection issues. (8) The committee met twice monthly during the reporting period after having been inactive in prior reporting periods. (8) |
|
Ad Hoc Committee for Consultation and Monitoring on the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons |
Under the office of the Vice President, responsible for coordinating national anti-trafficking efforts. Includes officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation (MFADC), Justice, Interior, Community Development, and Public Security. (13) In what the IOM characterized as increased activity by the committee compared to previous years, in 2020, the Committee conducted training for more than 407 government officials and worked with the MFADC to repatriate and provide services to victims of human trafficking abroad. This included six victims from Tanzania who were minors. (13) During the reporting period, the Committee's Integrated Plan of Activities expired, and the Committee worked with the IOM to draft a new plan to extend through 2022. (13) The Committee also translated Burundi's 2014 Counter-Trafficking Law into the national language of Kirundi to disseminate it to anti-trafficking stakeholders such as immigration officers, judges, police, and local NGOs. (13) |
The Multi-Sector Committee for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor was active again during the reporting period, but participating NGOs have indicated that the committee is more effective in the areas around Bujumbura and lacks a presence upcountry, limiting its ability to respond to urgent cases outside of the capital region. (8)
While the Ad Hoc Committee was active during the reporting period, it did not receive any dedicated funds from the government for the fiscal year and thus was reliant upon funding sources from international organizations. (13) Furthermore, there is a lack of coordination and training among stakeholders to properly classify and respond to cases of human trafficking. (3)
The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including inactive and expired policies.
|
Policy |
Description |
|---|---|
|
National Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Persons (2019–2020) |
Aimed to significantly reduce human trafficking in Burundi by 2020 through the adoption of political, social, economic, and institutional measures. Identified women and children as being the most vulnerable to human trafficking, noting sectors of high prevalence and human trafficker profiles. (34,41) The policy ended in 2020 and has not been replaced. (8) The government reported that it continued implementing the 2018–2020 Integrated Plan of Activities to carry out the National Action Plan, and noted that it accomplished a majority of the activities during the reporting period. The government began working with the IOM to draft a new plan. (13) |
|
Burundi National Development Plan (2018–2027) |
Ten-year strategic plan that aims to address economic and social challenges in the country. Includes goals to address poverty and access to education, and seeks to address youth employment through strategies such as updates to the labor code and improvements in basic and vocational education. (42) During the reporting period, the government worked with IOM to recruit members of the Burundian diaspora to serve in consultative roles on the implementation of the plan. (43) |
During the reporting period, research did not reveal any steps taken by the government to renew the expired National Revised Action Plan for the Fight Against the Worst Forms of 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 the adequacy of programs to address the full scope of the problem in all sectors.
|
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Centers for Family Development† |
Ministry of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender-operated centers that address human rights issues, including child exploitation, and reintegrate victims in their home communities. Coordinate with Child Protection Committees to refer victims to local NGOs for care, when necessary. (33,44) The centers continued to operate during the reporting period, including providing services to six child trafficking victims repatriated from Tanzania. (3,13) |
|
Country Program for the Promotion of Decent Work†* |
Developed in 2020 by the Ministry of Labor in partnership with the ILO, aims to increase job opportunities for vulnerable populations such as youth who are at risk of being victims of human trafficking, and promote the application of international labor standards. (13) |
|
IOM Anti-Trafficking Programs* |
Includes the Burundi Counter-Trafficking (2019–2022) program launched in 2019 in partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands that aims to reinforce government anti-human trafficking efforts by improving coordination between government ministries, Burundi National Police, and civil society organizations. Also aims to strengthen the national referral system for the protection of and improve reintegration services for human trafficking victims. (19,45) In 2020, IOM bolstered its anti-trafficking programming in Burundi through the USAID-funded "National Response to Victim Protection, Prevention and Prosecution of Trafficking in Burundi" program. The 2 year, $1.5 million project seeks to improve Burundi's capacity by raising awareness, improving victim services, and centralizing government counter-trafficking efforts. (46) |
|
"Back to School" Campaign† |
UNICEF and Ministry of Education "Back to School" campaign to promote equitable access and retention in school for 2.6 million basic education students, half of them girls. (47) UNICEF continued its campaign to help modernize school facilities and update and improve curriculum, and held its annual supply distribution campaign in September 2020. (48,49) |
* Program was launched during the reporting period.
† Program is funded by the Government of Burundi.
Research found no evidence that the government has carried out programs to assist children working in agriculture. Further, the scope of existing programs is insufficient to fully address the extent of the child labor problem.
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Burundi (Table 11).
|
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Legal Framework |
Ensure that forced labor is criminally prohibited with possible penalties beyond fines. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that the use of children in illicit activities is criminally prohibited with possible penalties beyond fines. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
|
Establish by law a compulsory education age equal to the minimum age for work. |
2009 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that all children are protected from hazardous work activities, including in agriculture, which has hazardous conditions and in which child labor is known to occur. |
2016 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that the law criminally prohibits the recruitment of children under age 18 by non-state armed groups. |
2012 – 2020 |
|
|
Enforcement |
Conduct targeted inspections in sectors and areas where child labor is known to be prevalent, including in agriculture and the informal sector. |
2020 |
|
Ensure the government conducts an adequate number of labor inspections and that inspections cover all areas of the country. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Increase the number of labor inspectors to meet the ILO's technical advice. |
2009 – 2020 |
|
|
Provide sufficient funding and resources to the Inspector General of Work and Social Security to cover needs such as fuel costs, per diem, office supplies, and vehicles. |
2009 – 2020 |
|
|
Publish information on criminal law enforcement efforts including whether initial training is provided to investigators, the number of investigations conducted, violations identified, prosecutions initiated, and convictions achieved related to the criminal enforcement of child labor laws. |
2017 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that officials receive adequate training on laws pertaining to the worst forms of child labor. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that criminal law enforcement agencies and agencies responsible for responding to human trafficking have the resources, guidance, and capacity necessary to investigate cases and provide services to victims. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Strengthen referral mechanisms between law enforcement agencies, social services, and civil society organizations to ensure that cases are properly investigated and that victims receive services. |
2020 |
|
|
Coordination |
Improve the capacity of the Multi-Sector Committee for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor to ensure coverage in areas outside of the capital city. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
Ensure the viability of established coordinating mechanisms by dedicating regular funding for their operation. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Improve training and coordination among anti-trafficking in person stakeholders. |
2020 |
|
|
Government Policies |
Adopt a policy that addresses all relevant worst forms of child labor, such as a national child labor action plan or a national trafficking in persons action plan. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
Social Programs |
Collect and publish data on child labor prevalence across relevant sectors. |
2020 |
|
Increase access to education by eliminating school-related fees; increasing the number of well-trained educators; expanding infrastructure to accommodate the needs of female and disabled students; and increasing birth registration rates for populations such as the Batwa ethnic group. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
|
Institute and expand existing programs to address child labor, including in agriculture. |
2009 – 2020 |
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura. Reporting. February 7, 2019.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura. Reporting. January 15, 2020.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2020: Burundi. Washington, DC, March 2020. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-trafficking-in-persons-report/burundi/
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 3, 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/.
- 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), 2016–2017. Analysis received March 2021. Please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura. Reporting. February 3, 2017.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura. Reporting. January 18, 2018.
- U.S. Embassy-Bujumbura. Reporting. January 21, 2021.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Burundi. Washington, DC, 2019. https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report-2/burundi/
- ILO. Rapport de l'étude de cartographie sur les zones d'occurrence des pires formes de travail au Burundi. June 2013. Source on file.
- Nininahazwe, Bella Lucia. Children Under 15 Recruited to Cook for Fishermen in Rumonge. November 2, 2017. http://www.iwacu-burundi.org/englishnews/children-under-15-recruited-to-cook-for-fishermen-in-rumonge/
- Batha, Emma. Former Burundi street child helps heal civil war divisions. Thomson Reuters Foundation. March 20, 2017. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burundi-conflict-streetchildren/former-burundi-street-child-helps-heal-civil-war-divisions-idUSKBN16R0NN
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura. Reporting. February 16, 2021.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2018: Burundi. Washington, DC, 2018. https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-trafficking-in-persons-report/burundi/
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. April 30, 2018.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura. Reporting. February 28, 2019.
- de Neubourg, Chris, Nesha Ramful, Lien Boon. La Pauvreté des enfants au Burundi. UNICEF. January 2017. Source on file.
- Nimpagaritse, Patrick. Gilbert Nkurunziza. Burundi: le travail des enfants, ca nous concerne tous. Yaga. June 12, 2019. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura. Reporting. March 23, 2020.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. July 10, 2020.
- Harerimana, Egide. People with disabilities encounter several challenges in Burundi education. Iwacu English News. September 19, 2019. https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/englishnews/people-with-disabilities-encounter-several-challenges-in-burundi-education/
- Government of Burundi. Ordonnance ministerielle n° 630/1 du 5 janvier 1981 portant réglemenatation du travail des enfants. Enacted: 1981. Source on file.
- Government of Burundi. Loi n°1_11 du 24 novembre 2020 portant revision du code du travail du Burundi. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=fr&p_isn=111173&p_classification=01.02
- Governmnet of Burundi. Portant prévention et répression de la traite des personnes et protection des victimes de la traite, Loi No. 1/28. Enacted: 2014. Source on file.
- Government of Burundi. Loi n° 1/27 du 29 decembre 2017 portant Révision du Code Pénal. Enacted: 2017. Source on file.
- Government of Burundi. Portant statut des hommes de troupe de la force de défense nationale, Loi No. 1/17. Enacted: 2006. Source on file.
- Government of Burundi. Portant organisation de l'enseignement de base et secondaire, Loi No. 1/19. Enacted: 2013. Source on file.
- Government of Burundi. Constitution de la République du Burundi. Enacted May 17, 2018. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/110590/137602/F502086490/BDI-110590.pdf
- Government of Burundi. Constitution interimaire post-transition de la République du Burundi. Enacted: 2005. Source on file.
- Government of Burundi. Transitional Education Plan 2018-2020. May 2018. https://www.globalpartnership.org/sites/default/files/plan_transitoire_education_du_burundi.pdf
- U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2020: Burundi. Washington, DC, March 31, 2021. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burundi/
- Government of Burundi. Inspection Générale du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale (IGTSS). Ministère de la Fonction Publique, du Travail et de l'Emploi. Accessed April 15, 2020. http://www.ministerefptss.gov.bi/?q=inspection-générale-du-travail
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. March 25, 2016.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. March 1, 2019.
- CIA. The World Factbook. Accessed February 28, 2018. Please see "Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/burundi/
- UN. World Economic Situation and Prospects 2017 Statistical Annex. New York. 2017. Please see "Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/publication/2017wesp_full_en.pdf
- U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2019: Burundi. Washington, DC, March 11, 2020. https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/burundi/
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. June 10, 2021.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura official. E-mail communication with USDOL official. June 13, 2019.
- U.S. Embassy- Bujumbura. Reporting. January 25, 2016.
- Government of Burundi. Plan d'Activités Intégré portant sur la Traite des Personnes 2019/2020. December 26, 2018. Source on file.
- Government of Burundi. Burundi National Development Plan 2018–2027. June 2018. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/110657/137683/F754275122/BDI-110657.pdf
- IOM. African Development Bank to Engage Burundian Diaspora in Tackling Youth Unemployment. September 8, 2020. https://www.iom.int/news/african-development-bank-engage-burundian-diaspora-tackling-youth-unemployment
- Government of Burundi. Decree on the Creation, Structure, Missions and Roles of the CDFC December 17, 2012. Source on file.
- IOM. IOM Partners with Burundi to Combat Human Trafficking. July 12, 2019. https://www.iom.int/news/iom-partners-burundi-combat-human-trafficking
- IOM. IOM with the Support of USAID Strengthens Collaboration with Government of Burundi to Combat Human Trafficking. February 2, 2020. https://www.iom.int/news/iom-support-usaid-strengthens-collaboration-government-burundi-combat-human-trafficking
- UNICEF. Burundi Humanitarian Situation Report. November 30, 2016. http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/UNICEF Burundi Humanitarian SitRep - 30 November 2016.pdf
- UNICEF. Back to School in Burundi 2020. September 7, 2020. https://www.unicef.org/burundi/stories/back-school-burundi-2020
- UNICEF Burundi. Education, Every child has the right to quality education. Accessed April 2, 2020. https://www.unicef.org/burundi/education
