USDOL – US Department of Labor (Author): “2021 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Sierra Leone”, Document #2082805

2021 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Sierra Leone

Moderate Advancement

In 2021, Sierra Leone made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government ratified the Protocol of the Forced Labor Convention, the Domestic Workers Convention, and Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, as well as the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, providing the government with additional tools to apprehend and prosecute human traffickers. Sierra Leone also launched the National Policy on Radical Inclusion in Schools with the aim of ensuring education access to all children in the country. However, children in Sierra Leone are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and forced labor in mining. Children also perform dangerous tasks in quarrying stone and fishing. The types of hazardous work prohibited for children do not cover all sectors in which child labor is known to occur, and the government does not have a sufficient number of labor inspectors to adequately enforce labor laws throughout the country. In addition, Sierra Leone lacks a national policy and social program to address all relevant worst forms of child labor.

I. Prevalence and Sectoral Distribution of Child Labor

Children in Sierra Leone are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and forced labor in mining. Children also perform dangerous tasks in quarrying stone and fishing. (1) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Sierra Leone. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report.

**Table 1. Statistics on Children's Work and Education**
Children	Age	Percent
Working (% and population)	5 to 14	35.1 (Unavailable)
Attending School (%)	5 to 14	78.2
Combining Work and School (%)	7 to 14	32.2
Primary Completion Rate (%)		87.2

Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2020 published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2022. (2)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization’s analysis of statistics from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS 6), 2017. (3)

Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.

**Table 2. Overview of Children's Work by Sector and Activity**
Sector/Industry	Activity
Agriculture	Cultivation of cassava, oil (palm), cocoa, coffee, peanuts, rice, and processing garri flour (4)
	Fishing,† including artisanal fishing (1,4-6)
Industry	Mining† for diamonds, gold, and sand (1,5-7)
	Quarrying† and crushing stone, including granite, and shoveling gravel (1,5-7)
	Construction, including housing construction, and serving as laborers for contractors (1,4-6)
	Manufacturing,† activities unknown (1,5,8,9)
	Production of charcoal (1,5,6,8)
Services	Scavenging scrap metals and recyclable materials from dumpsites (1,10)
	Domestic work (1,5,6,10)
	Street work, including begging, trading, and selling goods (1,5,6,10)
	Portering, including carrying heavy loads† (7)
	Working as apprentices, including in auto repair shops and on transportation vehicles, including mini buses and motorbike taxis (4)
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡	Forced begging (1,5,6,11)
	Forced domestic work (1,5,6,11,12)
	Commercial sexual exploitation, including prostitution, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,5,6,12)
	Forced labor in street hawking, mining, agriculture, scavenging for scrap metal, and motorbike taxi driving, quarrying granite, rock breaking, and mining for alluvial diamonds (5,7,11,12)
	Cultivation of marijuana (5,6)

† 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.

Sierra Leone is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking of children for labor and commercial sexual exploitation. (13-16) Sierra Leone has a form of internal child trafficking called “men pikin,” meaning foster care in Krio, in which family members send children to relatives in urban areas with promises of better educational opportunities. However, some children are instead subjected to forced labor, including in street hawking, domestic work, mining, agriculture, scavenging for scrap metal, and motorbike taxi driving. (5,6,10,11,17) Some children sent to Koranic schools are also trafficked for labor exploitation. (10,16) Research indicates that a decreased number of commercial sexual exploitation cases were reported during the reporting period, likely due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. (4,5)

In 2019, the government published a report based on household-level survey data collected in 2018, which included a discussion of child labor in Sierra Leone. However, the data were not fully disaggregated to show the prevalence of child labor among children under age 10. (8)

Despite government initiatives to make education free through secondary school, substantial barriers remain, including a lack of schools and teachers, the costs of uniforms and supplies, limited transportation to schools, and sexual and gender-based violence by teachers and other students. (1,5,6,18,19) In particular, one report indicated that teachers demanded sex from students in exchange for higher grades. (5) Research also found that the government did not pay all teacher salaries, and that unqualified teachers were removed from schools in several rural communities without being replaced, resulting in some schools closing. All of these factors contributed to a high dropout rate, especially among girls. (5)

II. Legal Framework for Child Labor

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

**Table 3. Ratification of International Conventions on Child Labor**
Convention	Ratification
ILO C. 138, Minimum Age	✓
ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor	✓
UN CRC	✓
UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict	✓
UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography	✓
Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons	✓

In August 2021, Sierra Leone ratified the P029 Protocol of the Forced Labor Convention. Additionally, the government ratified the C189 Domestic Workers Convention, and the C143 Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention. The Protocol and Conventions will go into effect in August 2022. (6,20)

The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Sierra Leone’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the lack of specific provisions on light work.

**Table 4. Laws and Regulations on Child Labor**
Standard	Meets International Standards	Age	Legislation
Minimum Age for Work	Yes	15	Section 125 of the Child Right Act; Section 52 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Act (21,22)
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work	Yes	18	Section 128 of the Child Right Act (21)
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children	Yes		Section 128 of the Child Right Act; Sections 47–56 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Act; Sections 164 and 170 of the Mines and Minerals Act (21-23)
Prohibition of Forced Labor	Yes		Part II, Section 2, and Part IV, Sections 14, 15, and 21 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act; Section 19 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (24,25)
Prohibition of Child Trafficking	Yes		Part II, Section 2, and Part IV, Sections 14, 15, and 21 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (24)
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children	Yes		Part II, Section 2, of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act; Section 19 of the 2019 Sexual Offenses (Amendment) Act; Sections 20–34 of the 2012 Sexual Offenses Act (24,26,27)
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities	Yes		Sections 7 and 13 of the National Drugs Control Act (28)
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment	Yes	18	Section 28 of the Child Right Act (21)
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military	N/A*
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups	No
Compulsory Education Age	Yes	15	Section 3 of the Education Act; Section 125 of the Child Right Act (21,29)
Free Public Education	Yes		Section 3 of the Education Act; Section 9 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone; Section 11(c) of the Child Right Act (21,25,29)

* Country has no conscription (30)

The Child Right Act sets the minimum age for light work at age 13; however, it is not in compliance with international standards because it does not limit the number of hours per week for light work, determine the activities in which light work may be permitted, or specify the conditions in which light work may be undertaken. (21) In addition, although the Child Right Act identifies hazardous work prohibited for children, it does not cover scavenging for recyclable materials at dumpsites, in which children are exposed to toxic fumes and smoke from burning trash, sharp objects, and broken bottles. (1,10,11,21,31)

III. Enforcement of Laws on Child Labor

The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.

**Table 5. Agencies Responsible for Child Labor Law Enforcement**
Organization/Agency	Role
Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS)	Enforces labor laws in the formal sector via its District Labor Officers. Through its Child Labor Unit, formulates, implements, and monitors compliance with child labor regulations. (6)
Ministry of Justice's Director of Public Prosecution	Undertakes criminal proceedings and prosecutions, including enforcement of criminal laws against slavery, human trafficking, forced child labor, commercial sexual exploitation, recruitment and use of child soldiers, and use of children in illicit activities. (1,6)
Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources	Enforces regulations against the use of child labor in mining. Authorized to suspend licenses of mining operators found using child labor. (6)
Ministry of Internal Affairs' Police and Transnational and Organized Crime Unit	Leads the investigation and prosecution of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse through Police Family Support Units, which are mandated to minimize and eradicate the incidence of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse. Through its Transnational Organized Crime Unit, enforces human trafficking laws and provides statistical data and general information on cases of human trafficking. (1,6)
District Councils	Enforces child labor laws in the informal sector. (6)

During the reporting period, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) held several awareness-raising events on child labor. (6)

Labor Law Enforcement

In 2021, labor law enforcement agencies in Sierra Leone took actions to address child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the MLSS that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including a limited number of inspectors and insufficient financial resources allocation.

**Table 6. Labor Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor**
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement	2020	2021
Labor Inspectorate Funding	$40,000 (5)	Unknown (6)
Number of Labor Inspectors	29 (5)	29 (6)
Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties	Yes (22)	Yes (22)
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors	Yes (5)	N/A (6)
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor	N/A (5)	N/A (6)
Refresher Courses Provided	Yes (5)	Yes (6)
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted	Unknown (5)	Unknown (6)
Number Conducted at Worksite	Unknown (5)	Unknown (6)
Number of Child Labor Violations Found	0 (5)	Unknown (6)
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed	N/A (5)	N/A (6)
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected	N/A (5)	N/A (6)
Routine Inspections Conducted	Yes (5)	Yes (6)
Routine Inspections Targeted	Yes (5)	Yes (6)
Unannounced Inspections Permitted	Unknown (22,32)	Yes (22,32)
Unannounced Inspections Conducted	Unknown (5)	Yes (6)
Complaint Mechanism Exists	No (5)	Yes (6)
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services	No (5)	Yes (6)

During the reporting period, labor inspectors received training on child labor, labor inspections, and monitoring on the worst forms of child labor from the ILO and the Africa Regional Labor Administration Center in Harari, Zimbabwe. (6) The number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Sierra Leone’s workforce, which includes more than 2.6 million workers. According to the ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in least developed economies, Sierra Leone needs to employ about 66 inspectors. (33,34) In addition, there is a significant lack of resources for labor inspections because the MLSS does not have the necessary funding, and has only one vehicle for inspections. (1,5,6)

Although the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources can conduct inspections on mining concessions and revoke licenses from employers who are found to be using child labor, research found that a limited number of inspectors and a lack of funding may have hindered enforcement efforts. (13,35,36)

The practice of notifying employers in advance of inspections may have contributed to the lack of violations found. (37)

Criminal Law Enforcement

In 2021, criminal law enforcement agencies in Sierra Leone took actions to address child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of the criminal enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including insufficient allocation of financial resources.

**Table 7. Criminal Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor**
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement	2020	2021
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators	Unknown (5)	Unknown (6)
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor	N/A (5)	N/A (6)
Refresher Courses Provided	Unknown (5)	Yes (17)
Number of Investigations	Unknown (5)	Unknown (6)
Number of Violations Found	Unknown (5)	Unknown (6)
Number of Prosecutions Initiated	Unknown (5)	Unknown (6)
Number of Convictions	Unknown (5)	Unknown (6)
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor	Unknown (5)	Unknown (6)
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services	Yes (5)	Yes (6)

During the reporting period, the government did not provide information on initial training of new investigators, training on new laws related to the worst forms of child labor, any refresher courses provided, the number of investigations done, violations found, prosecutions initiated, and convictions handed out, as well as any penalties imposed for violations. Research found that criminal law enforcement in Sierra Leone, particularly efforts to address human trafficking, is hampered by a lack of coordination, limited funding, and a lack of training of law enforcement personnel and the judiciary. (1,16)

IV. Coordination of Government Efforts on Child Labor

The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8). However, gaps exist that hinder the effective coordination of efforts to address child labor, including efficacy in accomplishing mandates.

**Table 8. Key Mechanisms to Coordinate Government Efforts on Child Labor**
Coordinating Body	Role & Description
Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs (MGCA)	Serves as the lead agency to oversee child protection issues, including child labor, in criminal law enforcement efforts, and refers children found through investigations to social services and interim care centers. (1,4) MGCA is currently reviewing the 2007 Child Right Act and the Street Child Strategy. (4) Research was unable to determine whether the MGCA was active during the reporting period.
National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labor	Coordinates efforts to address child labor. (1) Led by MLSS and MGCA and includes representatives from 10 other government agencies, international organizations, and NGO's. As part of the National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labor, the National Commission for Children advises the government on ways to improve child welfare. (1) Research was unable to determine whether the National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labor was active during the reporting period.
National Trafficking in Persons Task Force	Coordinates issues related to child trafficking; supports agencies that provide shelter and services for human trafficking survivors; gathers data on reported human trafficking cases; and meets regularly to develop policies related to child trafficking. (1,5) Hybrid entity made up of NGO's, civil society, and government agencies. Led by the MGCA and the Ministry of Justice. (1,6,17,38) Task Force members met monthly during the reporting period, coordinating the requirements for NGO's which provided shelter and services to human trafficking survivors. (6,17)
Child Welfare Committees	Functions under the MGCA, and promotes awareness of children’s rights and report child welfare concerns to officials responsible for children’s issues. Provide recommendations in giving support to children, report human trafficking cases, and address inhabitants' complaints and concerns at the village level. (1,4,5,16,17,30) During the reporting period, held an awareness-raising campaign on child labor and human trafficking, among other engagement activities. (6)

The Child Right Act requires the establishment of a Child Welfare Committee in every village and chiefdom (the third level of administrative subdivision, below districts and provinces); however, research indicates that these committees have been established in only a few parts of the country due to budgetary constraints. (21,39)

V. Government Policies on Child Labor

The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including covering all worst forms of child labor.

**Table 9. Key Policies Related to Child Labor**
Policy	Description
National Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (2021–2023)†	Aims to coordinate cooperation between NGO's, international organizations, and government agencies in addressing human trafficking and calls for a review of Sierra Leone's Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2005. (40,41) The plan also aligns with the ECOWAS Plan of Action Against Trafficking in Persons. (16)
National Policy on Radical Inclusion in Schools† 2021	Ensures that schools throughout Sierra Leone are accessible to all children, especially those typically marginalized or excluded. In particular, the policy focuses on four excluded and marginalized groups: children with disabilities; children from low-income families; children in rural and underserved areas; and girls—especially girls who are currently pregnant or already parents and in school. (6)

† 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. (1)

In January 2022, the government undertook a migration policy review and launched a new policy document which put in place further control measures to ensure that actors in migration processes can coordinate, share information on issues around migration, and fully understand their roles. According to the new policy, recruitment agencies should be registered with the government and vetted by the Transnational Organized Crime Unit before starting operations. (17) In 2021, the government ratified the ECOWAS Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, providing the government with additional tools to apprehend and prosecute human traffickers. (17)

Although the Government of Sierra Leone has adopted the National Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, research found no evidence of a policy on other worst forms of child labor, including child labor in mining, quarrying, and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

VI. Social Programs to Address Child Labor

In 2021, 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 problem in all sectors.

**Table 10. Key Social Programs to Address Child Labor**
Program	Description
Child Trafficking Shelters†	Government-funded program that refers child trafficking survivors to privately run shelters that house child survivors of forced labor and human trafficking. (16) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the Child Trafficking Shelters program during the reporting period.
Free Quality School Education (2018–2023)†	A Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) program that covers the costs of school tuition and fees and provides meals, textbooks, and some teaching materials in remote communities. (1,5,42) In 2021, the MBSSE held a nationwide campaign to inform the public about education by partnering with local councils, radio stations, civil society, and school administrators (6) The MBSSE continued its radio teaching program and its awareness-raising campaign for the Free Quality School Education program. (6)
USG-Funded Projects	USDOS Program to End Modern Slavery funded a study to research the prevalence, methods, and impacts of child trafficking and child labor in Kono, Kenema, and Kailahun. Research continued during the reporting period in the Kambia District of Sierra Leone. (4)

† Program is funded by the Government of Sierra Leone.
‡ The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (43)

Sierra Leone has too few and underfunded shelters and safe houses for children who have been withdrawn from working on the streets or in forced labor. (11) Although the Government of Sierra Leone has implemented programs to assist child trafficking survivors, research found no evidence that it has carried out programs specifically designed to assist children working on the streets, in agriculture, and in domestic work. (1)

VII. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor

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

**Table 11. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor**
Area	Suggested Action	Year(s) Suggested
Legal Framework	Ensure that the Child Right Act's light work provisions specify the activities and conditions in which light work may be undertaken and limit the number of hours of light work.	2015 – 2021
	Ensure hazardous work occupations prohibited for children are comprehensive, including scavenging at dumpsites.	2020 – 2021
	Ensure that the law criminally prohibits the recruitment of children under age 18 by non-state armed groups.	2016 – 2021
Enforcement	Increase the number of labor inspectors to meet the ILO's technical advice.	2011 – 2021
	Provide labor law and criminal law enforcement officials with sufficient resources to adequately enforce labor laws throughout the country.	2012 – 2021
	Ensure the Ministry of Mines has adequate funding and resources to carry out enforcement efforts.	2015 – 2021
	Publish information on labor law enforcement efforts, including labor inspectorate funding, the number of inspections carried out and conducted at worksites.	2011 – 2021
	Ensure unannounced inspections are conducted and cease the practice of employers being informed ahead of time.	2020 – 2021
	Improve coordination between criminal law enforcement agencies and provide sufficient training to enforcement personnel and the judiciary to ensure that violations are adequately investigated and prosecuted.	2014 – 2021
	Publish information on criminal law enforcement efforts, including training for criminal investigators, the number of investigations undertaken, criminal violations found, prosecutions initiated, convictions obtained, and penalties imposed for the worst forms of child labor.	2015 – 2021
Coordination	Ensure that village-level and chiefdom-level Child Welfare Committees are established and operational in all areas.	2014 – 2021
	Ensure that all coordinating bodies are able to carry out their intended mandates.	2020 – 2021
Government Policies	Adopt policies to address child labor in relevant sectors, such as mining, quarrying, and commercial sexual exploitation.	2019 – 2021
Social Programs	Publish activities undertaken to implement the Child Trafficking Shelters program.	2020 – 2021
	Ensure that data for household surveys are fully disaggregated and published so the prevalence of child labor at all ages, including below age 10, in Sierra Leone is known.	2019 – 2021
	Institute programs in the education sector to address issues including lack of transportation, increasing the number of schools and qualified teachers, paying teachers' salaries on time, reducing school-related costs, and eliminating abuse, including sexual and gender-based violence by teachers and other students.	2013 – 2021
	Increase the availability of and funding for shelters and safe houses for survivors of forced labor and for children removed from street work.	2009 – 2021
	Institute programs to address child labor in the sectors of agriculture, domestic work, and street vending.	2019 – 2021

References

ecoi.net description:: Annual report on child labor (covering 2021)
Country:: Sierra Leone
Source:: USDOL – US Department of Labor (Author)
Original link:: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/sierra-leone
Document type:: Periodical Report
Language:: English
Published:: 28 September 2022
Document ID:: 2082805