In 2020, Honduras made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government began implementing the new Child Labor Inspection Protocol, which established guidelines and procedures for inspectors to follow to ensure that inspections appropriately identify and address child labor violations. It also assisted non-governmental partners in the creation of a virtual training platform designed to train inspectors on the Child Labor Inspection Protocol. Furthermore, government agencies conducted multiple joint operations targeting child labor throughout the country. However, children in Honduras are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. They are also used to carry out illicit activities, including selling and trafficking drugs. Children also engage in child labor in the production of coffee and melons. Labor law enforcement agencies lacked financial and human resources, and the government did not adequately report comprehensive data related to its criminal law enforcement efforts. In addition, social programs that address child labor in agriculture have not addressed the problem nationwide, and the government lacks similar programs to eliminate child labor in other sectors, including fishing, mining, and domestic work.
Children in Honduras are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. They are also used to carry out illicit activities, including selling and trafficking drugs. Children also engage in child labor in the production of coffee and melons. (1-5) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Honduras.
|
Children |
Age |
Percent |
|---|---|---|
|
Working (% and population) |
5 to 14 |
9.0 (168,348) |
|
Working children by sector |
5 to 14 |
|
|
Agriculture |
53.3 |
|
|
Industry |
12.7 |
|
|
Services |
34.0 |
|
|
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
87.9 |
|
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
6.2 |
|
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
79.5 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2019, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2021. (6)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization’s analysis of statistics from Encuesta Permanente de Hogares de Propósitos Múltiples (EPHPM), 2019. (7)
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 melon, coffee, corn, and okra (8-12) |
|
Harvesting mollusks† and shrimp (11) |
|
|
Fishing, including working as divers’ assistants,† and diving for lobster† (2,5,13) |
|
|
Industry |
Production and sale of fireworks† (14-16) |
|
Artisanal mining† (5) |
|
|
Construction,† activities unknown (1,2,5,9,13,17) |
|
|
Services |
Washing car windows, begging, vending, and performing† on the streets for tips (1,13,14,18-20) |
|
Scavenging in garbage dumps† (19,21) |
|
|
Work in hotels, activities unknown (19) |
|
|
Domestic work† (9,17,19) |
|
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (5,13,17,22,23) |
|
Use in illicit activities, including by gangs in committing homicides, extortion, selling and trafficking drugs, and commercial sexual exploitation (1,4,5,13,17) |
|
|
Forced begging, street vending, and domestic service (5,17,24) |
|
|
Forced labor in fishing, mining, construction, and in the hospitality industry (5) |
† 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.
Children in Honduras are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation by family members and friends. (5,13,17) Children are also forced to work as street vendors and domestic servants. Gangs force children to commit extortion and murder, engage in prostitution, transport weapons, traffic drugs, and serve as lookouts. (5,13,17) In addition, Honduras is a destination country for child sex tourists from the United States and Canada. (5)
According to Honduras' National Institute of Statistics, 364,765 children between the ages of 5 and 17 were working in 2019, with 67 percent working in rural areas and more than half engaged in labor in agriculture. (13,17) Reports indicate that children from indigenous and African-descent groups are particularly vulnerable to child labor, including its worst forms. (1,22,25,26) Boys from the Miskito Afro-descendant community are vulnerable to forced labor in fishing, mining, construction, and hospitality industries. (5) Children who lack economic and educational opportunities are the most vulnerable to child labor and are among the most likely to migrate to other countries. Once en route, migrant children are vulnerable to human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. (22,23,27)
During the reporting period, barriers to education in the country increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the result of children's lack of access to the internet, cellphone coverage, or technical equipment required to attend virtual classes. (17) According to the Ministry of Education, of the 1.9 million children enrolled in the 2020 school year, 295,000 did not have access to virtual education. In addition, some reports indicate that a significant number of children left school in 2020, and of the ones who remained in school, 468,000 had disrupted or partial school schedules. (17) In 2020, the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STSS) held 7 virtual meetings for parents, adolescents, and teachers on the topic of child labor and the importance of ensuring that children remain in the education system, reaching 720 participants. (17)
In Honduras, access to education is often limited, especially for children living in rural areas, where there is a lack of funding for schools, and in many cases, a limited number of secondary schools. (1,28) Reports indicate that in some regions of the country, especially in Mosquitia, language barriers exist, because teachers do not speak local languages or dialects. (17,29) Furthermore, some families are unable to afford costs such as uniforms, school fees, and transportation. (13,17) Violence originating from gang activity also presents barriers to access for both children and educators. (1,13,17) Children from indigenous and African-descent groups face persistent difficulties in obtaining access to education.(29) These children face deteriorating conditions in the schools that serve their communities, such as shortcomings in terms of materials, personnel, and infrastructure. Reports also indicate that there is a particularly high dropout rate among children of indigenous and African descent. (29) Children with disabilities attend schools at a lower rate than the general population, and the National Center for Social Sector Information states that 43 percent of persons with disabilities received no formal education. (30)
Honduras 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 Honduras' legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the minimum age for work compared to the compulsory education age.
|
Standard |
Meets International Standards |
Age |
Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Age for Work |
Yes |
14 |
Article 120 of the Code on Childhood and Adolescence; Article 15 of the Executive Agreement STSS-211-01; Article 32 of the Labor Code (31-33) |
|
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Articles 1 and 122 of the Code on Childhood and Adolescence; Articles 2 and 10 of the Executive Agreement STSS‑211-01; Article 1 of the Executive Agreement STSS-441-2016 (31,32,34) |
|
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
Yes |
Article 1 of the Executive Agreement STSS-441-2016; Article 8 of the Executive Agreement STSS‑211-01 (31,34) |
|
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
Yes |
Articles 2 and 10 of the Executive Agreement STSS‑211-01; Articles 221 and 222 of the Penal Code (31,35) |
|
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Articles 2 and 10 of the Executive Agreement STSS‑211-01; Article 8 of the Legislative Decree 35-2013; Articles 219 and 220 of the Penal Code (31,35,36) |
|
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Yes |
Article 134 of the Code on Childhood and Adolescence; Articles 2 and 10 of the Executive Agreement STSS‑211-01; Articles 219, 220, 257 and 259–262 of the Penal Code (31,32,35) |
|
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
Yes |
Article 134 of the Code on Childhood and Adolescence; Article 10 of the Executive Agreement STSS‑211-01; Articles 6 and 52 of the Law Against Trafficking in Persons (Decree 59-2012); Article 8 of the Legislative Decree 35-2013 (31,32,36,37) |
|
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
Yes |
18 |
Articles 2 and 12 of the Executive Agreement STSS‑211-01 (31) |
|
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
N/A* |
||
|
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
Yes |
Articles 2 and 10 of the Executive Agreement STSS‑211-01 (31) |
|
|
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
17 |
Articles 8, 13, and 21–23 of the Fundamental Law of Education; Articles 36 and 39 of the Code on Childhood and Adolescence (32,38) |
|
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Articles 7, 13, and 21–23 of the Fundamental Law of Education; Article 36 of the Code on Childhood and Adolescence; Article 171 of the Constitution (32,38,39) |
* No conscription (31)
The Honduran National Congress approved a new Penal Code in May 2019, which then entered into force in June 2020. The Penal Code explicitly criminalized slavery, setting penalties of 8 to 13.5 years in prison when the victim is under 18. However, the Penal Code lowered the penalties for the crime of trafficking in persons from 15 to 22.5 years in prison when the victim is under 18, to 5 to 8 years with the possibility of a 1/3 increase when the victim is specially vulnerable due to age. (17,35,40)
The minimum age for work is lower than the compulsory education age, which may encourage children to leave school before the completion of compulsory education.
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 |
|---|---|
|
Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STSS) |
Conducts labor inspections and enforces child labor laws through the General Directorate of Social Welfare and the General Directorate of Labor Inspections. It was created by the Labor Inspection Law enacted in 2017 through Decree Num. 178-2016. (13,17,41,42) |
|
Public Ministry |
Carries out criminal prosecutions and directs the investigation of crimes in the country, including those related to the worst forms of child labor. (13,43) Through its Office of the Special Prosecutor for Children, prosecutes crimes with child victims, including crimes related to child trafficking, forced labor, and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Also coordinates with the National Police to investigate crimes and protect victims. (13,43) Through its Technical Agency for Criminal Investigations, investigates and provides technical support for criminal prosecutions, including by the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Children, such as those related to human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, and child pornography. (13,14) Through its Unit Against Trafficking in Persons, Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Illicit Traffic in Persons, coordinates with domestic and international enforcement agencies to carry out anti-trafficking in persons operations and prosecutions. Also, manages a hotline to register trafficking in persons complaints. (24,44) |
|
National Police |
Investigates crimes related to the worst forms of child labor, through its Police Investigation Directorate. Also works with the Public Ministry and the Directorate of Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (DINAF), as well as other government entities on operations to remove children from child labor. (14,17) |
|
Directorate of Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (DINAF) |
Formulates, coordinates, and implements national plans concerning children and their families; monitors children’s rights, including by investigating complaints of child labor and ensuring that victims receive government services; and coordinates state efforts with civil society institutions to protect children. It is overseen by the Social Cabinet, a cabinet-level government entity that coordinates 17 governmental institutions. (13,14,17,45-47) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2020, labor law enforcement agencies in Honduras took actions to combat child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the STSS that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including a lack of human resources.
|
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
$3,100,000 (13) |
$3,200,000 (17) |
|
Number of Labor Inspectors |
154 (13) |
185 (17) |
|
Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties |
Yes (33) |
Yes (33) |
|
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
Yes (13) |
Yes (17) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
N/A (13) |
Yes (17) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Yes (13) |
Yes (17) |
|
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
21,949 (13) |
8,267 (17) |
|
Number Conducted at Worksite |
Unknown |
7,318 (17) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
Unknown |
0 (17) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
2 (48) |
N/A (17) |
|
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
0 (13) |
N/A (17) |
|
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Yes (44) |
Yes (17) |
|
Routine Inspections Targeted |
Yes (44) |
Yes (17) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (33) |
Yes (33) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Yes (44) |
Yes (17) |
|
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
Yes (13) |
Yes (17) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (13) |
Yes (17) |
On March 16, 2020, the Government of Honduras declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic, which halted labor inspections during March and April. (17) In response to the pandemic, the government created an Inter-Institutional Commission to Verify Biosafety Protocols, led by STSS, to conduct biosafety labor inspections. These inspections also included checks to verify that companies were in compliance with child labor laws. (17)
During the reporting period, STSS conducted 8,267 labor inspections, including 2 related directly to child labor. STSS conducted inspections in businesses in the commercial service and agricultural sectors. (17) Although STSS did not uncover any violations of child labor laws in 2020 at the time of the inspections, the government confirmed there are children working in the agricultural sector. (17) STSS and civil society partners have all indicated that the number of inspections conducted is insufficient to address the scope of labor violations in the country, including child labor violations. (1,13,17,28,49) STSS noted that the decrease in the number of inspections carried out this reporting period, when compared to the previous year, largely resulted from the pandemic and movement restrictions related to the state of emergency. (17) Reports indicate that STSS conducts most inspections in the urban areas of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and rural areas and indigenous communities, in which hazardous activities in agriculture and fishing or diving are concentrated, have insufficient inspections to address the scope of the problem. (5,50) Inspectors do not conduct inspections in the informal sector unless there is a formal complaint, even though child labor is often encountered in this sector in Honduras. (17)
In December 2019, within the framework of the U.S.-Honduras Labor Rights Monitoring and Action Plan, the government approved a Child Labor Inspection Protocol, which STSS began implementing in January 2020. The protocol outlines guidelines and procedures for inspectors to follow to ensure that inspections appropriately uncover and address child labor violations. (17)
Labor union confederations, employer organizations, and human rights organizations have indicated that the level of funding and resources for the General Directorate for Labor Inspections is insufficient to enforce child labor laws nationwide. (1,17,28) Although the government had reportedly allocated nearly $3.4 million to the General Directorate for Labor Inspections, it ultimately received only $3.2 million due to budget cuts related to the pandemic and Hurricanes Eta and Iota. In 2020, inspectors did not have enough office facilities and transportation to carry out inspections. (17) Furthermore, reports indicate that the Directorate of Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (DINAF) lacks sufficient resources to adequately carry out its mandate. (14,28)
The number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Honduras’ workforce, which includes more than 3.7 million workers. According to the ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 15,000 workers in industrializing economies, Honduras would employ about 249 labor inspectors. (51,52) STSS also noted that the number of labor inspectors is insufficient, despite adding 31 inspectors in 2020. (17) During the reporting period, inspectors received training on new guidelines related to biosafety protocols. (17) In addition, World Vision supported STSS in creating a virtual learning platform to train inspectors on the Child Labor Inspection Protocol. However, although inspectors received training in 2020 on child labor issues, STSS indicated that more training is needed. (17)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2020, criminal law enforcement agencies in Honduras 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 the lack of publicly available enforcement information.
|
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Unknown |
Yes (17) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
N/A |
Yes (17) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Yes (44) |
Unknown (17) |
|
Number of Investigations |
Unknown |
35 (17) |
|
Number of Violations Found |
Unknown |
Unknown (17) |
|
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
Unknown |
Unknown (17) |
|
Number of Convictions |
Unknown |
Unknown (17) |
|
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Yes (44) |
Unknown (17) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (13) |
Yes (17) |
In 2020, the Public Ministry's Special Prosecutor's Offices for Women and Children, along with the Unit of Trafficking, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and Illicit Trafficking (UTESCTP), worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through its Transnational Criminal Investigation Unit to investigate smuggling and trafficking organizations, child pornography, and child labor violations. (17) The Transnational Criminal Investigation Unit coordinated the transfer of minors encountered during the operations to DINAF. The UTESCTP also investigated 10 child trafficking cases and 25 child commercial sexual exploitation cases according to STSS reports. (17) The Public Ministry's Special Prosecutor's Office for Children, in coordination with DINAF, the Criminal Investigative Police, and the Technical Agency for Criminal Investigations, carried out operations in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba to prevent forced begging, because there has been an increase in the number of children on the street as a result of the pandemic. The Prosecutor's Office in La Entrada, Nueva Arcadia, Copan carried out inspections of artisan fireworks factories to ensure that children were not employed in the factories. (17) During Operation Jupiter V, the Special Prosecutor's Office for Children carried out raids at three coffee plantations in El Paraiso Department. During the raids, officers identified children working with their parents to cut coffee. (17)The government indicated that the owner of the plantations did not hire the children. The Special Prosecutor's Office for Children issued warnings to the parents and reported the incident to STSS. (17) The total number of violations found, prosecutions, convictions, and penalties imposed related to the worst forms of child labor in 2020 were unknown because the government did not provide disaggregated data for inclusion in this report. It also did not provide information on refresher course training for criminal investigators. (17)
In 2020, the Public Ministry held virtual trainings from June to September for 115 investigators and prosecutors on addressing child labor, specifically related to the new Penal Code that went into force on June 25. UTESCTP held a virtual training in June for 152 investigators, prosecutors, and members of civil society about trafficking in persons, child commercial sexual exploitation, and child pornography. (17)
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 efficacy in accomplishing mandates.
|
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
|---|---|
|
National Commission for the Gradual and Progressive Eradication of Child Labor |
Coordinates government policies and efforts on child labor issues. Chaired by STSS and includes officials from eight government ministries, DINAF, the Supreme Court, and other government entities. (41,53,54) Oversees regional sub-commissions, led by STSS and DINAF officials, which implement national efforts at the local level. (41,53,54) During the reporting period, the Commission held one meeting, which focused on the pandemic. Meanwhile, the National Commission's Technical Council held four meetings to review actions taken by various sectors to combat child labor and discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Eta and Iota on children in Honduras. (17) In 2020, through the Technical Council for the Gradual and Progressive Eradication of Child Labor, which is made up of state institutions, workers' unions, private enterprise, and civil society, STSS coordinated joint actions for the prevention of child labor. The Technical Council also carried out a virtual campaign on preventing child labor as part of its activities to raise awareness for the World Day against Child Labor. (17) |
|
Inter-Institutional Commission Against Sexual, Commercial, and Trafficking Exploitation (CICESCT) |
Works in the prevention and prosecution of crimes of sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons, as well as providing assistance to victims. Incorporates representatives from 35 organizations, including several government ministries, NGOs, and private companies. (55) Oversees 19 local CICESCT committees and implements the Strategic Plan to Combat Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking. (25) In 2020, CICESCT identified 43 child victims of labor and commercial sexual exploitation and coordinated with DINAF to provide them with food, health care, and psychological support. (17) |
|
Migration Task Force |
Convenes several government ministries to collaborate on addressing irregular migration, including combating the risks associated with trafficking in persons. Chaired by Honduras' First Lady Ana Garcia de Hernandez. (3) In September 2020, it organized a conference on the pandemic and its effects on migration.(47,56) |
|
Secretariat of Social Development and Inclusion |
Coordinates social protection policies and the provision of services to vulnerable populations. (57) Reports indicate it was active during 2020. (47) |
The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including implementation.
|
Policy |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Roadmap for the Eradication of Child Labor in Honduras |
Aims to eradicate all forms of child labor by 2020 and improve the government’s response to child labor issues. Works at the national, regional, and sub-regional levels and addresses poverty, health, education, and social development. (58) Implemented by STSS. (14) World Vision and the National Commission for Gradual and Progressive Eradication of Child Labor continued to collaborate to develop a new country prevention strategy for 2021–2025. However, the strategy was not finalized during the reporting period due to the pandemic and subsequent state of emergency. (17) |
|
Strategic Plan to Prevent and Eliminate Child Labor (2016–2020) |
Developed a coordinated approach for the prevention and elimination of child labor, including by increasing child labor law enforcement, strengthening engagement with the private sector, developing procedures for inter-agency coordination, and developing social programs to support children removed from child labor. (54) Implemented by STSS and other executive and judicial branch agencies, and employers’, workers’, and other civil society organizations. (54) During the reporting period, STSS provided training and technical support to the Caruchil Coffee Producers Cooperative, which was established as a pilot project of the plan. Through this project, the Social Welfare Directorate developed an investigative prevention model for the prevention of child labor in the coffee sector. (17) In 2020, the Strategic Plan to Prevent and Eliminate Child Labor ended. The government is planning to develop a new plan for the 2021–2025 period in cooperation with worker's organizations, private companies, and civil society. (17) |
|
Strategic Plan to Combat Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking in Honduras (2016–2022) |
Establishes national priorities to combat commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking in four principal areas: (1) prevention and awareness; (2) investigation, prosecution, and punishment of violations; (3) detection, assistance, and protection of victims; and (4) coordination and cooperation. (59) During the reporting period CICESCT continued implementing the Strategic Plan to Combat Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking in Honduras by undertaking activities such as: identifying child victims of commercial and sexual exploitation, as well as coordinating with DINAF to provide them with support. (47) |
|
Interinstitutional Strategy for Homeless Families and Children† |
Defines coordinating actions to confront the problem of family and child homelessness, including child begging. Finalized in July and was developed partly in response to the pandemic and other factors contributing to increasing rates of homelessness. (17) |
|
U.S.-Honduras Labor Rights Monitoring and Action Plan |
Aims to improve the enforcement of labor laws, including laws related to child labor, by implementing legal and policy reforms, strengthening STSS, enhancing enforcement activities, and increasing outreach efforts. (60) During the reporting period, USDOL and STSS continued activities and coordination under the plan. (17) |
† 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. (61-65)
In 2020, the Public Ministry signed an agreement with World Vision to strengthen the ministry's actions to eradicate child labor, forced labor, and trafficking in persons. (17)
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 implementation and the adequacy of programs to address the full scope of the problem.
|
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Better Life Voucher (Bono Vida Mejor)† |
Conditional cash transfer program that aims to reduce poverty by providing financial assistance to households after parents ensure that their children participate in health, education, nutrition, and other programs. (27,66) |
|
Program to Combat Child Forced Begging† |
DINAF program that identifies and rescues children who are subjected to forced begging and raises awareness of child forced begging through the media. (50,67) |
|
Program for the Reintegration of Returned Unaccompanied Migrant Children† |
Government program that assists unaccompanied migrant children who have been returned to Honduras. Funded by UNICEF and implemented by DINAF, in collaboration with the National Institute for Migration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNICEF, the Network of Institutions for Children's Rights, and the NGO Aldeas SOS. (17,68) |
|
Program to Prevent Sex Tourism Involving Children and Adolescents† |
Government program that aims to raise awareness and provide training on sex tourism for the tourism industry. Implemented by the Honduran Tourist Board, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Honduras Tourism Institute. (69) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken during the reporting period to implement the program. |
|
USDOL-Funded Projects |
USDOL projects that aim to eliminate child labor through direct services to Honduran youth, capacity building with the Honduran government, and technical assistance to businesses. These projects include: $2 million Addressing Child Labor and Forced Labor in the Coffee Supply Chain in Honduras (2017–2022); $17 million Youth Pathways Central America (2015–2021); and $11.6 million Bright Futures (2014–2023). During the reporting period, Bright Futures worked with STSS to design and implement a digital learning platform, which launched in July 2020. (17) Also in July, the Bright Futures held a virtual training for coffee producers on labor biosafety, labor rights, and child labor. In addition, in September 2020, the project delivered training manuals to STSS personnel as a complement to the digital learning platform courses. (17) Additional information is available on the USDOL website. |
† Program is funded by the Government of Honduras.
‡The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (53)
According to reports, almost all of the social programs funded by the government and listed on Table 10 were operational in 2020. (47) Yet, research was unable to determine what specific activities were undertaken during the reporting period to implement most of them. In addition, although the Government of Honduras funds or participates in social programs to address child labor, research did not identify programs that specifically target children working in sectors, such as fishing, mining, and domestic work, or that address the illegal recruitment of children into gang-related activities. In addition, social programs that address child labor in agriculture do not appear to be sufficient to address the scope of the problem nationwide.
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Honduras (Table 11).
|
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Legal Framework |
Raise the minimum working age of 14 to conform to the compulsory education age of 17. |
2018 – 2020 |
|
Enforcement |
Carry out labor inspections in areas in which child labor is prevalent, such as rural areas, the informal sector, and indigenous communities in which children engage in agriculture and fishing or diving. |
2017 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that labor enforcement agencies have sufficient funding and resources to carry out their mandates nationwide. |
2010 – 2020 |
|
|
Increase the number of labor inspectors to meet the ILO's technical advice. |
2010 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that all labor inspectors receive sufficient training on child labor issues. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
|
Publish complete criminal law enforcement information on efforts related to the worst forms of child labor, such as all training provided, total number of violations found, prosecutions initiated, number of convictions obtained, and penalties imposed for violations. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
|
Social Programs |
Increase access to education by increasing funding to schools, ensuring that teachers speak local languages or dialects, building more schools, particularly in rural areas, enhancing efforts to protect students from gang recruitment and violence, and removing barriers such as school fees and costs for uniforms and transportation. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that social programs reach the children who are most vulnerable to child labor, including children of African descent and indigenous children. |
2017 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that social programs are adequately funded and implemented, and report on their yearly efforts. |
2020 |
|
|
Expand social programs that address child labor in agriculture and create programs to assist children engaged in child labor in fishing, mining, domestic service, and illicit gang activity. |
2009 – 2020 |
- U.S. Embassy- Tegucigalpa. Reporting. March 6, 2019.
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Encuesta de Hogares de Propósitos Múltiples (EPHPM) 2016 Cuadros de Trabajo Infantil. October 20, 2016.
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https://www.sedh.gob.hn/noticias3/340-honduras-mantiene-compromiso-encaminado-a-la-prevencion-y-eliminacion-de-la-trata-de-personas - Proceso Digital. Honduras Replantea a Nivel Internacional el Tema Migratorio. September 1, 2020.
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