In 2020, Madagascar made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. A national task force created to protect children developed an online portal enabling the public to report cases of child exploitation. Meanwhile, the National Bureau to Combat Human Trafficking conducted an assessment of the expired national action plan to combat human trafficking and finalized a new plan during the reporting period. In response to international reporting, the government drafted a national action plan to combat child labor in the mica sector. Finally, Madagascar expanded services provided through support and reintegration programs by creating new support centers in the cities of Toliara and Tolagnaro. Although Madagascar made meaningful efforts in all relevant areas, the government failed to investigate reports of some officials accepting bribes to produce and issue false identity documents to facilitate commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Children in Madagascar are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in the mica mining sector and in agriculture, including in the production of vanilla. Limited resources for the enforcement of child labor laws may impede government efforts to protect children from the worst forms of child labor, and social programs to combat child labor are insufficient to adequately address the extent of the problem.
Children in Madagascar are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude. Children also perform dangerous tasks in the mica-mining sector and in agriculture, including in the production of vanilla. (1-3) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Madagascar. 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 |
43.2 (Unavailable) |
|
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
68.8 |
|
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
33.8 |
|
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
63.3 |
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 the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS 6), 2018. (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 vanilla, cloves, coconut, rice,† and peanuts (2,6-10) |
|
Fishing and deep-sea diving,† including for lobster and shrimp (6,11-13) |
|
|
Herding cattle (14) |
|
|
Industry |
Mining† gold, sapphires, crystal, quartz, mica, and tourmaline, and transporting† blocks and stones at mining sites (3,13,15-18) |
|
Quarrying† and crushing† stone and making gravel (11,16,19) |
|
|
Brickmaking† (11,13) |
|
|
Services |
Street work, including begging, washing cars, market vending, transporting goods by rickshaw, and scavenging garbage (6,11-16,20) |
|
Working in bars,† including as waitresses, maids, and masseuses (1,14,20-22) |
|
|
Domestic work† (1,6,9,11,13,16) |
|
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,6,13,16,23-25) |
|
Use in illicit activities such as selling drugs and committing vandalism (26) |
|
|
Forced labor in mining, quarrying, begging, and domestic work (6,16,25,27) |
† 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 Madagascar, particularly those from rural and coastal regions and from poor families, are vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation, forced domestic servitude, forced begging, and forced labor in mining, fishing, and agriculture. (13,27,28) Girls in particular are lured by peers, family members, and pimps and subjected to commercial sexual exploitation in tourist locations, urban cities, vanilla-growing regions, and mining areas. (1,13,18,20,29) Children from rural villages are often sent to larger cities as domestic workers, where they are subjected to harsh working conditions, including long hours, poor accommodations, and low salaries. Girls working in domestic service are also more vulnerable to being raped by their employers. (11,13) In addition, children recruited by agencies into domestic work are sometimes subsequently subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. (27,28) Reports also suggest a recent increase in the commercial sexual exploitation of boys. (27,28) A source indicates that some government officials in tourist areas such as Nosy Be issue false identity documents to minors in exchange for bribes in order to facilitate child commercial sexual exploitation. (25) Despite these allegations, there have been no reports of government actions to investigate or prosecute public officials who participate in or facilitate child sex tourism. (25)
An estimated 47 percent of children ages 5 to 17 are engaged in child labor, with 32 percent working in hazardous conditions. The Matsiatra Ambony and Androy regions have the highest rates of working children. (11,30) Estimates from the ILO suggest that children work primarily in the informal sector and in agriculture, and perform hazardous work in agriculture, mining, and fishing. (13) In addition to economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, drought and famine-like conditions in the southern region of Madagascar have exacerbated poverty conditions and pushed more than 100,000 children to the brink of starvation, prompting them to abandon school to beg or forage for food. (31,32) The combination of economic insecurity, hunger, and lack of education may put more children at risk of labor exploitation.
Recent reports indicate that an estimated 10,000 children work in the mica sector in the southern region of Madagascar, including in constructing mines, extracting and sorting mica, and hoisting loads of mica out of mines. Young girls are also vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation around mica mining sites. (3,13,28) Children as young as age 10 are involved in mining gold and sapphires in the regions of Analamanga, Anosy, Ilakaka, and Vakinankaratra. Children in the mining sector suffer from diseases such as diarrhea and malaria, as well as respiratory problems due to inadequate equipment, and are at risk of injury from collapsing mines. (6,13,15,18,20) In addition, children working in the production of vanilla in Madagascar are exposed to toxic substances and extreme temperatures. They also transport heavy loads and work for long hours. (9,10,33,34) There are reports that children are increasingly recruited by adults to engage in vanilla theft because they are less likely to be pursued by security forces or subjected to mob retaliation. (12) In fishing, children dive deep underwater with no protection or breathing devices, while children involved in stone quarrying use dangerous tools with no protection and work in the outdoor heat. (11)
Although the Constitution guarantees free compulsory education, in practice, access to education is often limited for some children. Barriers to education include a lack of school infrastructure, unqualified teachers, limited transportation to schools in rural areas, costs for school fees and supplies, and school violence, all of which leave children vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor. (9,13,29,35-38)
Madagascar 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’s laws and regulations are in line with relevant international standards (Table 4).
|
Standard |
Meets International Standards |
Age |
Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Age for Work |
Yes |
16 |
Article 24 of the Constitution; Article 100 of the Labor Code; Articles 1, 39, 41, and 261 of Law 2008-011; Article 2 of Decree 2018-009 (37,39-41) |
|
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Article 101 of the Labor Code; Article 10 of Decree 2007-563 (39,42) |
|
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
Yes |
Article 101 of the Labor Code; Articles 10, 12, and 16–22 of Decree 2007-563; Article 19 of Decree 2018-009 (39-42) |
|
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
Yes |
Article 4 of the Labor Code; Articles 1, 8, and 18 of Law 2014-040; Article 15 of Decree 2007-563; Articles 333 and 335 of Law 2007-038; Article 10 of Decree 2018-009 (39-44) |
|
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Articles 15 and 23 of Decree 2007-563; Articles 333 and 335 of Law 2007-038; Articles 1, 6, 8, 13, and 22 of Law 2014-040 (42-44) |
|
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Yes |
Article 13, 23, and 24 of Decree 2007-563; Article 335 of Law 2007-038; Article 1 of Law 2014-040 (42-44) |
|
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
Yes |
Articles 11, 14, and 23 of Decree 2007-563 (42) |
|
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
Yes |
18 |
Article 11 of Ordinance No. 78-002 (45) |
|
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
N/A* |
Article 11 of Ordinance No. 78-002 (45) |
|
|
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
Yes |
Articles 15 and 23 of Decree 2007-563 (42) |
|
|
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
16‡ |
Article 24 of the Constitution; Article 39 of Law 2008-011 (37,41) |
|
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Article 24 of the Constitution (37) |
* No conscription
‡ Age calculated based on available information (41)
During the reporting period, the government initiated processes to amend its Labor Code to bring it into compliance with international standards. However, these efforts were halted due to the pandemic. (13)
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 Civil Services and Labor's Division for the Prevention, Abolition, and Monitoring of Child Labor (PACTE) |
Enforces child labor laws, trains inspectors, and coordinates and evaluates efforts to eliminate child labor. Also oversees national and regional child labor coordination committees. (13,35,36,46) |
|
Ministry of Justice |
Enforces laws pertaining to violence against children, including human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. (13,21,46) Works with Department-level courts to prosecute child labor cases. (11,13,47) |
|
Ministry of Public Security's National Civil Police Force Morals and Minors Brigade |
Investigates criminal cases involving minors, including issues pertaining to human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, mainly in urban areas. (6,13,21,46) Employs an all-female police unit (Proximity Female Brigade) that works with victims of violence, including child workers, by conducting investigations, directing victims to social services, and raising awareness. (13) |
|
Ministry of National Defense's National Gendarmerie Morality and Child Protective Services |
Investigates criminal cases involving children, including those related to the worst forms of child labor, mainly in rural areas. (13,46,48) |
|
Ministry of Population, Social Protection, and the Promotion of Women (MPPSPF) |
Develops and implements programs to protect vulnerable children, including victims of the worst forms of child labor. (13) In collaboration with UNICEF, manages around 700 child protection networks to protect children in all 22 regions of Madagascar. (13,27,49,50) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2020, labor law enforcement agencies in Madagascar took actions to combat child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the authority of the Ministry of Civil Services and Labor's Division for the Prevention, Abolition, and Monitoring of Child Labor (PACTE) that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including the ability to assess penalties.
|
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
Unknown |
$31,820 (13) |
|
Number of Labor Inspectors |
148 (11) |
147 (13) |
|
Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties |
No (11) |
Yes (39) |
|
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
Yes (11) |
Yes (13) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
N/A (11) |
N/A |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
No (11) |
No (13) |
|
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
Unknown |
Unknown (13) |
|
Number Conducted at Worksite |
Unknown |
Unknown (13) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
446 (11) |
Unknown (13) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
0 (11) |
0 (13) |
|
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
0 (11) |
0 (13) |
|
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Yes (11) |
Yes (13) |
|
Routine Inspections Targeted |
Yes (11) |
Yes (13) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (39) |
Yes (39) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Yes (11) |
Yes (13) |
|
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
Yes (11) |
Yes (13) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (11) |
Yes (13) |
The number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Madagascar’s workforce, which includes more than 13.4 million workers. According to the ILO’s technical advice of 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in less developed economies, Madagascar would employ about 335 labor inspectors. (51,52) The government itself has noted that the current number of inspectors is insufficient, indicating that its inspector workforce is not even able to cover the formal sector, much less the informal sector, in which most child labor occurs. (11,13) In addition, the concentration of labor inspectors in the capital hampers the enforcement of child labor laws in rural areas, especially in the agricultural sector. (6,35) Although the budget for the labor inspectorate in 2020 was distributed evenly to all regions in the country, the government indicated that funding was not sufficient to effectively carry out inspections nor cover the expenses of regional offices, most of which do not have transportation to carry out inspections. In addition, the union of labor inspectors noted that in the context of the pandemic, the government had not provided sufficient resources to enable them to carry out their duties. (13)
Labor inspectors use a specialized form during inspections to help detect child labor. Even though the labor inspectorate has the authority to conduct unannounced and routine inspections, in practice, most inspections occur in response to complaints received. (11,13) While the government did not report the number of child labor violations identified in 2020, research has shown that when violations are found, penalties are not applied. The government did not provide information on the number or types of inspections conducted, nor on the number of violations identified for inclusion in this report. (11,13)
While child labor-related training is provided to new inspectors, PACTE has indicated that the course is only 20 hours and insufficient to cover all relevant issues, particularly because refresher courses are not provided. (11,13) In addition, although Madagascar's list of hazardous occupations for children was expanded in 2018, reports indicate that the government was slow to disseminate the law's new requirements and has not taken steps to enforce it. (12) Madagascar has a complaint mechanism via a national hotline; however, most of the calls received are related to general violence against children. The mechanism does not have a record-keeping system to track calls specifically related to child labor issues. (11,13)
In November 2020, Madagascar's union of labor inspectors went on strike to demand back pay and the authority to assess penalties. The work stoppage continued at least through January, even though some inspectors continued to work. (13,53) It was prompted in part by the delay in approval of a decree developed by PACTE and the ILO that would enable labor inspectors to impose administrative sanctions, suspend the activities of any workplace that engages in the worst forms of child labor, and have authority over employers of domestic labor. (11,13)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2020, criminal law enforcement agencies in Madagascar 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 allocation of financial and human resources.
|
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Yes (11) |
Yes (13) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
N/A |
Yes (13) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
No (11) |
Yes (13) |
|
Number of Investigations |
942 (11) |
Unknown (13) |
|
Number of Violations Found |
51 (11) |
Unknown (13) |
|
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
Unknown |
Unknown (13) |
|
Number of Convictions |
Unknown |
Unknown (13) |
|
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown |
Yes (25) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (11) |
Yes (13) |
In August 2020, a national task force including the Ministry of Justice, MPPSPF, the National Police, and the Gendarmerie, established the Internet Watch Foundation global portal, which allows the public to anonymously report online images and videos of sexual abuse of children in Madagascar. The portal also notifies law enforcement agencies in the country. (13) In addition, the Ministry of Justice established a new mechanism to process court cases to streamline the prosecution of gender-based violence cases, in which many victims are child workers. (13)
During the reporting period, the Morals and Minors Brigade police unit reported that out of 803 complaints received originally for allegations of child abuse, police identified 14 victims of child trafficking and 44 victims of child domestic work. (25) In addition, the National Gendarmerie Morality and Child Protective Services identified two cases of commercial child sexual exploitation. An active civil society effort in Toliara to pressure police to take action against child sex traffickers resulted in 5 separate investigations, 11 arrests, and 1 conviction in various cases pertaining to commercial child sexual exploitation. (25) The government did not provide complete information on its criminal law enforcement trainings, investigations, violations found, prosecutions, or convictions related to the worst forms of child labor for inclusion in this report.
Reports indicate that there is a lack of trained staff, equipment, and transportation at all levels of government to adequately conduct criminal law enforcement efforts related to the worst forms of child labor. (6,11,25,54,55) Furthermore, weaknesses across Madagascar's court system hamper efforts to prosecute perpetrators of the worst forms of child labor. (25)
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 allocation of financial resources.
|
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
|---|---|
|
National Committee on the Fight Against Child Labor |
Coordinates programs and advises on child labor legislation and regulations. (20,56,57) During the reporting period, led efforts to draft a national action plan to combat child labor in the mica sector. (13) |
|
National Regional Child Labor Committees |
Coordinate, monitor, and evaluate all activities relating to the elimination of child labor in each of Madagascar's 10 regions. Identify activities to promote the elimination of child labor and compile, analyze, and report child labor data to PACTE. (46,57,58) In 2020, proceeded with a project to develop commune-level committees in the SAVA region, with 25 out of 31 communes covered by July 2020. (13) |
|
National Bureau to Combat Human Trafficking |
Coordinates anti-human trafficking efforts in Madagascar and is responsible for implementing the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Chaired by the Office of the Prime Minister, includes representatives from the Ministries of Civil Services and Labor, Justice, and Population. (21,43,56,59) Conducted an evaluation of the expired National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons, including carrying out data collection for a 3 year retrospective report that was pending final approval by the Prime Minister in 2020. (13) In collaboration with the ILO, UNICEF, and IOM, drafted a new National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which is now pending final review and approval by the Prime Minister. (13,25) |
|
National Child Protection Committee |
Guides and coordinates national child protection policy and programs. Chaired by the Minister of Population and Social Affairs, comprises a steering committee and a technical commission of specialists. (46,60) Due to pandemic restrictions in 2020, a plan to revise the decree that established the committee was not implemented, and the members of the committee were inactive during the reporting period. (13) |
Although the National Committee on the Fight Against Child Labor (CNLTE) developed a national strategy that identified the roles various ministries would play in combating child labor in the mica sector, the government amended its budget in 2020 to redirect funds intended for child labor activities to other priorities deemed more important during the pandemic. Overall, the CNLTE, the Regional Child Labor Committees, and the National Bureau to Combat Human Trafficking lack sufficient funding to effectively operate and coordinate efforts to address child labor. (9,12,13,26,28,36,38,47)
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 |
|---|---|
|
Joint Action Plan to Address Issues Affecting Children and Households in Mica Exploitation in the Anosy Region† |
Developed in 2020 through a joint initiative between the Ministries of Mining, Labor, and Population, aims to reduce child labor in the production of mining in the southern region. Drafted in collaboration with international and civil society organizations, was presented for government approval in November 2020. (13,62) |
|
Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children in the Tourism Industry |
Aims to prevent commercial sexual exploitation of children in the tourism industry. Implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and supported by the ILO and UNICEF. (64-67) During the reporting period, the Ministry of Tourism continued its assessment of enforcement of the code. The ministry released its report in December 2020, noting that 63 percent of survey respondents were familiar with the code, while 92 percent of code signatories indicated they had carried out trainings on it. (13) |
|
National Social Protection Policy |
Aims to protect children from abuse, violence, and exploitation, and promotes improved access to education and livelihood services for vulnerable children. Led by MPPSPF and supported by international donors. (56,68) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the Social Security Policy during the reporting period. |
† 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. (72,73)
Madagascar's National Action Plan to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor expired in 2019. The CNLTE had planned to conduct an assessment of the plan in 2020 but was unable to do so due to restrictions related to the pandemic and consequent budgetary changes, and no steps have been taken to develop a new action plan. Similarly, the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons expired in 2019. (13)
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 adequacy to address the problem in all sectors.
|
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Social Support and Reintegration Centers† |
Government program that provides social and reintegration services for victims of child labor and child exploitation. Includes the Manjary Soa Center, the Vonjy Centers in Antananarivo, Toamasina, Nosy Be, and Mahajanga, and the Centre d'Acueil d'Urgence emergency shelter. (13,20,21,74) Remained in operation in 2020, with the government establishing two new Vonjy centers in Toliara and Tolagnaro. The emergency center reported receiving 134 children during the reporting period, many of whom were mistreated domestic workers. (13) The Manjary Center, operated by PACTE, reported providing services to 30 children who were removed from exploitative labor situations, including domestic and street labor. (13) |
|
USDOL-Funded Projects |
Eliminating Child Labor in Mica-Producing Communities and Promoting Responsible Mica Sourcing in Madagascar and Globally (MICA),* a $4.5 million project awarded in December 2020 to be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme; (78) and Supporting Sustainable and Child Labor Free Vanilla-Growing Communities in SAVA (SAVABE), a $4 million project implemented by the ILO that aimed to reduce child labor in the vanilla-producing areas of the Sava Region. (79) In its final year in 2020, the latter project conducted a series of trainings for vanilla sector professionals, including representatives from vanilla export companies, on strategies to combat child labor. (13) Additional information is available on the USDOL website. |
|
UNICEF Country Program |
UNICEF-funded $197,815 program that supported the government’s efforts to improve education, health, nutrition, and protection for children in Madagascar. (12,80) In 2019, Madagascar requested and was approved for an extension of the program into 2020. (81,82) In 2020, UNICEF completed a formative evaluation of the program, including the extension, and Madagascar is expected to submit a new country program document for a second regular program starting in 2021. (83,84) |
* Program was launched during the reporting period.
† Program is funded by the Government of Madagascar.
‡ The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (16,46,61,85-88)
In 2020, MPPSPF inaugurated a center that combats gender-based violence in Antananarivo, the second of its kind in the capital city. The centers provide medical care and psychological support and access to law enforcement, legal representation, and vocational training. (13)
The Ministry of Population manages the child protection network in coordination with other ministries, including the Ministry of Labor's regional child labor committees to combat child exploitation, including trafficking, and provide social and health service to child victims. (13,27) While the network remained active during the reporting period, with 700 functioning networks that referred over 1,600 children for services, research has shown that the government does not adequately fund all the networks or provide access to public hospitals and health units, requiring the networks to rely heavily on international organizations to provide services. (13,27)
Although Madagascar has programs that target child labor, the scope of these programs is insufficient to address the extent of the problem, particularly in agriculture, commercial sexual exploitation, domestic work, begging, and mining. (6,16,38,61)
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Madagascar (Table 11).
|
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Enforcement |
Investigate and prosecute public officials who are allegedly complicit in or facilitate the worst forms of child labor. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
Publish complete enforcement information related to child labor, including the number and types of labor inspections conducted and the number of violations found. |
2013 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that inspectors and criminal law enforcement officials receive appropriate and regular training on child labor issues. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Increase the number of labor inspectors to meet the ILO’s technical advice. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that the labor inspectorate receives adequate funding to enforce child labor laws and to conduct a sufficient number of inspections, including in rural and agricultural areas and the informal sector. |
2009 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that inspectors regularly exercise their authority to conduct routine unannounced inspections rather than conduct inspections primarily in response to complaints. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that when encountered, children are removed from child labor situations and that penalties for child labor violations are applied. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Enhance the effectiveness of existing complaint hotline databases by gathering separate data on child labor-related complaints. |
2009 – 2020 |
|
|
Disseminate and enforce the new decree expanding the list of hazardous occupations for children. |
2018 – 2020 |
|
|
Publish criminal law enforcement data on the types of trainings conducted, the number of violations found, the number of investigations and prosecutions initiated, and the number of convictions achieved with respect to the worst forms of child labor. |
2013 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that criminal law enforcement agencies have sufficient staff, equipment, and transportation to combat the worst forms of child labor. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Strengthen the court systems to ensure perpetrators of the worst forms of child labor are properly investigated, prosecuted, and sentenced. |
2020 |
|
|
Coordination |
Ensure that relevant coordinating mechanisms are adequately funded and are actively implementing their mandates. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
Government Policies |
Ensure that policies related to child labor are implemented, and report on yearly actions taken. |
2016 – 2020 |
|
Develop and adopt a new National Action Plan to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor, and finalize new versions of expired policies, such as the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Social Programs |
Enhance efforts to eliminate barriers and make education accessible for all children, including those in rural communities, by removing fees for supplies and school-related costs, increasing school infrastructure and transportation services, hiring sufficiently qualified teachers, , and ensuring children’s safety in schools. |
2011 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that social protection systems have adequate funding to provide appropriate services to victims of the worst forms of child labor. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
|
Expand the scope of programs to address child labor in agriculture and the worst forms of child labor in agriculture, commercial sexual exploitation, domestic work, begging, and mining. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
|
Collect and publish comprehensive data on child labor prevalence in Madagascar. |
2020 |
- ECPAT France. Contribution d’ECPAT France sur le suivi de la situation de l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales- Madagascar. 2015. https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CRC-OP-SC/Shared Documents/MDG/INT_CRC-OP-SC_NGO_MDG_21425_F.pdf
- ILO. Supporting Sustainable, Child Labor Free Vanilla-Growing Communities in Sava. October 2017: Technical Progress Report. Source on file.
- van der Wal, Sanne. Child Labour in Madagascar's Mica Sector. Terre des Homes. November 2019. Source on file.
- 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 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS 6) 2018. Analysis received March 2021. For more information, please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
- ILO. Individual Case Discussion concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Madagascar (ratification: 2001). Published: 2016.
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https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/dec/08/madagascar-152m-vanilla-industry-soured-child-labour-poverty?platform=hootsuite - Hansen, Julie Hjerl, et al. Vanilla Hidden Price - Bottomless debt and child labor. DanWatch, December 8, 2016.
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http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb297/pdf/esp-3.pdf - L'Expresss de Madagascar. Grève des syndicats des travailleurs - Plusieurs dossiers bloqués à l’Inspection du travail. November 20, 2020. https://lexpress.mg/24/11/2020/greve-des-syndicats-des-travailleurs-plusieurs-dossiers-bloques-a-linspection-du-travail/
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http://latribune.cyber-diego.com/societe/2056-travail-des-enfants-a-madagascar-la-repression-et-la-penalisation-ne-progressent-pas.html - ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Direct Request concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Madagascar (ratification: 2001). Published: 2017.
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http://www.lexxika.com/lois-malagasy/droit-du-travail/decret-portant-modification-de-certaines-dispositions-des-articles-du-decret-n-2004-985-du-12-octobre-2004-portant-creation-missions-et-composition-du-comite-national-de-lutte-contre-le-travail/ - Ministry of Labor official. Interview with USDOL official. March 7, 2016.
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http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/94708/111171/F647529721/MDG-94708.pdf - Government of Madagascar official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. January 14, 2017.
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http://www.unicef.org/about/execboard/files/2015-PL1-Madagascar_CPD-final_approved-EN.pdf - UNICEF. Country programme documents ending in 2019 and 2020. Office of the Secretary of the Executive Board. May 20, 2019.
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https://www.unicef.org/about/execboard/index_103772.html - UNICEF. Country programme documents ending in 2021 and 2022. March 1, 2021. Source on file.
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