KAZAKHSTAN: UPDATE OF WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR

UNCLAS ASTANA 000891

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - O'MARA
DOL/ILAB FOR TINA MCCARTER
DRL/IL FOR TU DANG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI USAID KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: UPDATE OF WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR
INFORMATION

REF: A) STATE 184972, B) 05 ALMATY 3112, C) 04 ALMATY 3206


1. (U) Summary: In accordance with Ref A, this telegram provides
updated data on Kazakhstan's compliance with international norms on
the prevention of the worst forms of child labor. This cable
updates Refs B and C. This information is provided to assist in the
determination of Kazakhstan's continued eligibility for benefits
under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Post concludes
that the GOK is meeting its obligations under the relevant ILO
Conventions to prevent and punish illegal child labor practices.
There is currently no justification for altering Kazakhstan's
eligibility for GSP on the basis of child labor issues. End
summary.

2. (U) Note: The request for this information in Ref A makes no
mention of the update provided by post in 2005. Post did provide a
2005 update (Ref B) to the information submitted in 2004 (Ref C).
Since information has been submitted in the past two years, this
telegram is intended to provide another update (per Ref A). End
note.


3. (SBU) The Ministry of Education works in conjunction with local
authorities to prevent absenteeism in schools. Schools closely
monitor attendance and contact students absent for an extended
period of time. Ministry of Education officials conduct limited
"raids," together with the Interior Ministry and local authorities,
on markets, private farms, and other places where school dropouts
are likely to be employed.


4. (SBU) The problem of children missing school due to employment
remains concentrated in the country's South, where tobacco and
cotton farms attract, respectively, Kyrgyz and Uzbek migrants.
These cross-border migrant laborers, the vast majority of whom are
adults, are part of Kazakhstan's growing shadow economy. While
local authorities do make schooling available to migrant children,
the school drop-out problem exists and adds to the government's
growing challenge of dealing with its expanding migrant population.


5. (SBU) In December 2005, a new statute was added to the Criminal
Code criminalizing "recruitment for exploitation" and aimed at
protecting minors from victimization in industries such as sex
trade. The Ministry of the Interior works to identify at-risk
children (such as runaways, abused children, and children involved
in gangs) and, in some cases, places them in "temporary detention
and rehabilitation centers." These centers, which provide classes
and counseling, can serve as a stepping stone to a return home or a
transfer to an orphanage. The Interior Ministry also works to
transfer those exploited children who are foreign nationals to their
countries of origin.


6. (SBU) Comment: Post is satisfied that the Government of
Kazakhstan takes the issue of child labor seriously. While
Kazakhstan is facing some challenges in this respect due to a
growing problem of illegal migrants, the government is making
credible efforts to deal with the migrant situation in general and
the child labor problem in particular. Post recommends against any
change in Kazakhstan's GSP eligibility on the basis of child labor
issues. End comment.

MILAS