Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GUATEMALA100
2008-01-30 23:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
ADDENDUM TO GUATEMALA'S CHILD LABOR UPDATE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHGT #0100 0302344 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 302344Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4682 RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0860
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000100
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOL/ILAB TINA MCCARTER
DEPT FOR DRL/IL TU DANG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI USAID PGOV GT
SUBJECT: ADDENDUM TO GUATEMALA'S CHILD LABOR UPDATE
REF: A. GUATEMALA 54
B. 07 STATE 158223
This is an addendum to ref A based on information post
recently obtained from the Ministry of Labor in response to
our earlier request for information. Responses are keyed to
ref B.
A. Laws and regulations: In 2007, the Labor Inspectorate
authorized 36 work permits to children under the age of 14.
B. Implementation and enforcement: The 2007 budget for the
Child Workers Protection Unit was Q50,000 (approx. USD
6,494). The Labor Inspectorate has 245 labor inspectors,
including five inspectors dedicated to child labor. It has
32 labor courts -- 29 lower-level courts (eight in the
capital and 21 outside the capital) and three appellate
courts, all in the capital.
In 2007, the Labor Inspectorate conducted 295 inspections
involving child labor (four in the agricultural sector, 70 in
industry, 90 in commerce, 128 private, one state, and two
independent),including on-site investigation of pyrotechnic
factories. In addition, it conducted eight inspections in
the import/export processing ("maquila") sector. The
inspections resulted in attention to 3,393 adolescents 14 to
17 years of age, as well as 42 complaints filed against
employers for violation of labor laws, 52 mediations, three
referrals to the administrative process, 33 instances of
employer compliance with preventive measures, and 80 ongoing
cases. Of the 295 inspections, most (278) were conducted
based on complaints filed by employees; ten were required by
mandate of the Labor Inspectorate; and seven were prompted by
complaints filed by anonymous parties.
In 2007, the Ministry of Labor, with technical and financial
support from the International Labor Organization (ILO),
conducted five training sessions for officials of its Child
Workers Protection Unit and the Special Unit of Labor
Inspectors who handle child labor cases. The training
sessions focused on the application of Executive Order
250-2006 (Application of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst
Forms of Child Labor and Immediate Action for its
Elimination). The Ministry conducted two training sessions
on the protocol of attention to the adolescent worker for all
national-level labor inspectors. In addition, in 2007, the
Ministry trained more than 300 of its employees, including
employees of the Child Workers Protection Unit, on CAFTA
during four training sessions covering general provisions,
the Labor Chapter, the White Paper, and modernization of the
Labor Ministry.
C. Social programs for prevention: The government has
implemented an ILO-funded project in the Department of San
Marcos, a predominantly indigenous, poor area in western
Guatemala, for the prevention of domestic child labor. The
project's budget is USD 93,483. During the year, the
government made 95 presentations to 2,375 adolescents at
private and public middle schools and high schools to raise
awareness of their labor rights and dangerous occupations and
working conditions. The Ministry of Education continued to
administer its "Scholarships for Peace" program, which
provides scholarships for the education of economically
disadvantaged children.
Derham
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOL/ILAB TINA MCCARTER
DEPT FOR DRL/IL TU DANG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI USAID PGOV GT
SUBJECT: ADDENDUM TO GUATEMALA'S CHILD LABOR UPDATE
REF: A. GUATEMALA 54
B. 07 STATE 158223
This is an addendum to ref A based on information post
recently obtained from the Ministry of Labor in response to
our earlier request for information. Responses are keyed to
ref B.
A. Laws and regulations: In 2007, the Labor Inspectorate
authorized 36 work permits to children under the age of 14.
B. Implementation and enforcement: The 2007 budget for the
Child Workers Protection Unit was Q50,000 (approx. USD
6,494). The Labor Inspectorate has 245 labor inspectors,
including five inspectors dedicated to child labor. It has
32 labor courts -- 29 lower-level courts (eight in the
capital and 21 outside the capital) and three appellate
courts, all in the capital.
In 2007, the Labor Inspectorate conducted 295 inspections
involving child labor (four in the agricultural sector, 70 in
industry, 90 in commerce, 128 private, one state, and two
independent),including on-site investigation of pyrotechnic
factories. In addition, it conducted eight inspections in
the import/export processing ("maquila") sector. The
inspections resulted in attention to 3,393 adolescents 14 to
17 years of age, as well as 42 complaints filed against
employers for violation of labor laws, 52 mediations, three
referrals to the administrative process, 33 instances of
employer compliance with preventive measures, and 80 ongoing
cases. Of the 295 inspections, most (278) were conducted
based on complaints filed by employees; ten were required by
mandate of the Labor Inspectorate; and seven were prompted by
complaints filed by anonymous parties.
In 2007, the Ministry of Labor, with technical and financial
support from the International Labor Organization (ILO),
conducted five training sessions for officials of its Child
Workers Protection Unit and the Special Unit of Labor
Inspectors who handle child labor cases. The training
sessions focused on the application of Executive Order
250-2006 (Application of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst
Forms of Child Labor and Immediate Action for its
Elimination). The Ministry conducted two training sessions
on the protocol of attention to the adolescent worker for all
national-level labor inspectors. In addition, in 2007, the
Ministry trained more than 300 of its employees, including
employees of the Child Workers Protection Unit, on CAFTA
during four training sessions covering general provisions,
the Labor Chapter, the White Paper, and modernization of the
Labor Ministry.
C. Social programs for prevention: The government has
implemented an ILO-funded project in the Department of San
Marcos, a predominantly indigenous, poor area in western
Guatemala, for the prevention of domestic child labor. The
project's budget is USD 93,483. During the year, the
government made 95 presentations to 2,375 adolescents at
private and public middle schools and high schools to raise
awareness of their labor rights and dangerous occupations and
working conditions. The Ministry of Education continued to
administer its "Scholarships for Peace" program, which
provides scholarships for the education of economically
disadvantaged children.
Derham