GUINEA BISSAU: WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR

UNCLAS DAKAR 002961

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/IL - TU DANG, AF/W AND AF/RSA
DOL FOR ILAB/MCCARTER
ACCRA FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI EAID PU
SUBJECT: GUINEA BISSAU: WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR

REF: A. STATE 184972


B. DAKAR 0527


1. This cable responds to Ref A on the Worst Forms of Child
Labor report. The situation in Guinea-Bissau is little
changed since post reported on the 2005 Child Labor Report
and the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report (Ref B).

BACKGROUND
--------------

2. Guinea-Bissau does not have a serious problem with the
worst forms of child labor. There is very little industry,
mining, or production of any kind aside from agriculture,
mainly cashews. The worst forms of child labor that exist
throughout the country according to NGOs and government
officials are prostitution and trafficking for begging.
Prostitution is not widespread and is not organized.
Trafficking occurs when religious leaders or their agents
transport children to neighboring countries, usually Senegal,
for forced begging. (See Ref B.)


3. Two other dangerous forms of labor were identified by
leading child rights NGO Association for Women and Children
(AMIC): assisting on fishin and transport canoes in the
ocean and selling smll items in the street which preclude
children fom attending school and expose them to exhaust and
potential traffic accidents. Also, children somtimes sell
basic items late at night around the ew bars and discos in
Bissau.

LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT
--------------

4. The current law pohibits children from working until
they reach te age of 14 and complete the sixth grade in
schol. However, the penalty for breaking this law has not
been updated since the law was drafted; so the current value
of the fine is less than one US dollar. The law defines the
worst forms of child labor in the same way the International
Labor Organization (ILO) does, although Guinea-Bissau is not
yet a party to ILO Conventions 182 or 138. However, the
National Assembly debated both conventions on December 12
and, according to the Director General of Labor, Augusto
Alberto, voted to ratify the same day.


5. Enforcement of all crimes is weak, not just child labor
infractions. The judiciary is not fully independent, police
are often unpaid and most have never received professional
training. There is no prison, and jail conditions are very
poor. Corruption is pervasive. UNICEF has an ongoing
program to provide broad assistance on children,s rights in
conjunction with the Government,s Institute of Women and
Children. The USD 88,000 program includes awareness,
training for police and NGOs, and assistance.

PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE
--------------

6. The GOGB provides little additional assistance to
eliminating the worst forms of child labor. It contributes
annual operating funds to AMIC and another NGO, S.O.S., both
of which work to fight child trafficking among other
programs. Those same NGOs and others receive tax breaks and
Government assistance to cover utility costs. Key ministries
cooperate and assist in implementation of NGO programs such
as the U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded program to
provide school lunches. However, the GOGB indirectly
contributes to the problem of child labor by not paying
teachers, salaries, sometimes for months at a time. As a
result, schools are often closed and children end up working
more and studying less.


7. Guinea-Bissau signed onto a regional initiative to combat
trafficking in people this year in Libreville, Gabon. The
initiative includes a multilateral accord and plan of action
to combat trafficking in women and children.
JACOBS