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

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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