WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR IN HONDURAS: UPDATE TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000258 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/PPC, WHA/EPSC, WHA/CEN, EB, AND DRL/IL (TU DANG) STATE PASS USAID FOR LAC/CAM COMMERCE FOR MSIEGELMAN STATE PASS USTR FOR AMALITO DEPT. OF LABOR FOR ILAB (TINA MCCARTER AND ANA ASLAN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EIND ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM SOCI HO SUBJECT: WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR IN HONDURAS: UPDATE TO 2005 REPORT REF: A. 06 STATE 184972 ¶B. 05 TEGUCIGALPA 02172 ¶1. SUMMARY: There has been a lack of political will and resources to address adequately the problem of child labor in Honduras. Honduras has not yet completed its list of the worst forms of child labor required by International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182. The National Plan for the Eradication of Child Labor 2001-2006 was never implemented. The GOH has not prioritized child labor, as demonstrated by its absence from the national budget. Government officials state that over the past year, under the new Zelaya administration, political will is strengthening, and that work will be undertaken to complete the required ILO list and to update the National Plan for the Eradication of Child Labor. However, there is no substantive progress to report since Post's last submission in October 2005 (Ref B). END SUMMARY. CHILD LABOR IN HONDURAS ¶2. Both non-governmental and international organizations continue to cite the 2002 Honduran National Institute of Statistics (INE) Household Survey as the most up-to-date source of statistics on child labor. (Ref B). ¶3. The definition of hazardous conditions remains the same as in Ref B. WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR ¶4. All sources consulted explained that Honduras has not yet completed its list of the worst forms of child labor required by the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182. The Honduran Congress ratified the Convention in 2001. ILO consultants are still in the process of establishing the list, which is due to be completed in March 2007. Both the Ministry of Labor (MOL) and the Special Prosecutor for Children agreed that until the list is completed, progress on developing and enforcing regulations will be limited. LEGAL FRAMEWORK ¶5. Honduran laws on child labor are comprehensive and follow international guidelines. On 4 February 2006, the reformed Chapter 2 (regarding sexual exploitation) of the Penal Code entered into force and was published in La Gaceta (equivalent to the Federal Register) (Ref B). ENFORCEMENT ¶6. The MOL remains limited in its ability to conduct inspections, which it ascribes to a lack of resources. Its two main programs related to child labor are: (1) inspections conducted on companies within the formal labor sector, and (2) evaluation and possible granting of work authorizations to minors in certain circumstances (Ref B). The MOL admits that the informal sector, where the brunt of the problem lies, is, in practice, out of their reach. ¶7. According the the Special Prosecutor for Children, to date the MOL has not brought any cases to her office for enforcement. In Tegucigalpa, the Special Prosecutor is currently investigating six cases. The cases are for the most part brought to her office by private citizens. She does not have statistics for the rest of the country. Joint operations among the Special Prosecutor, the police, the Honduran Institute for Children and the Family (IHNFA), judges and NGOs occur but are also limited. Additionally, the Special Prosecutor stated that children's courts have minimal, if any, involvement in child labor cases. GOVERNMENT OF HONDURAS ACTION ¶8. The National Plan for the Eradication of Child Labor 2001-2006 was never implemented. Sources consulted (government and non-governmental) stated that the National Commission for the Gradual and Progressive Eradication of Child Labor met only once in the past five years. Nevertheless, they say that the Technical Council, created by the Commission to join together government agencies, NGOs and TEGUCIGALP 00000258 002 OF 002 international organizations, now is meeting regularly. However, the results of these meetings are unclear. None of the sources were able to point to concrete or comprehensive actions, but rather to sporadic projects implemented mainly by NGOs aimed at certain sectors, such as rescuing children who collect trash and helping their reinsertion into school. ¶9. NGO, government and international organization sources agreed that the Government of Honduras (GOH) has demonstrated greater political will in the last year than in previous years. They point to two examples: (1) working towards completing the list of the worst forms of child labor, and (2) the reformulation of the National Action Plan for the Eradication of Child Labor 2001-2006. Both activities are funded by the ILO and managed by ILO consultants, in coordination with the GOH. However, sources emphasize that the GOH has not prioritized child labor, as demonstrated by its absence from the national budget. ¶10. The Special Prosecutor and the ILO representative believe that one of the major impediments to eradicating child labor is the perception held by both the public and the government (including the police) that child labor is not a problem. Due to cultural patterns and the extreme poverty in Honduras, they say that child labor is considered normal. The Special Prosecutor believes a public awareness campaign is necessary. ¶11. COMMENT: There is no concrete progress to report on GOH compliance with international commitments or their own laws on child labor eradication. The GOH has demonstrated good intentions but lack of action on child labor eradication during the last year. There is consensus that a child labor eradication policy in Honduras should include creation of job opportunities for adults, better quality of education for all and prevention of school desertion. The ILO estimated in October 2006 that it would cost USD 2.8 billion to fund all needed improvements in child education between the ages of six and 14 in the country. Post believes that child labor remains a serious problem in Honduras and will continue to pressure the government to eradicate the worst forms. END COMMENT. FORD