KAZAKHSTAN: UPDATE OF INFORMATION ON WORST FORMS OF CHILD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000148

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/ILCSR FOR TU DANG
DOL/ILAB FOR TINA MCCARTER

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

REF: (A) 08 STATE 127488
(B) 08 ASTANA 1028
(C) 07 ASTANA 3256
(D) 06 ASTANA 891
(E) 05 ALMATY 3112
(F) 04 ALMATY 3206


1. SUMMARY: Per retel A, this cable provides updated information on
Kazakhstan's compliance with international norms on the prevention
of the worst forms of child labor. The cable updates reftels C, D,
E, and F. 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 Kazakhstani government 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 the GSP on the basis of child labor
issues. END SUMMARY.


2. Kazakhstan does not have an acute problem with the worst forms
of child labor, although local and international NGOs active in the
country report that child labor is used in the seasonal production
of cotton and tobacco, primarily in Kazakhstan's southern regions.
There are no comprehensive national statistics on the use of child
labor in cotton and tobacco production, although NGO studies have
found that over 70 percent of the children employed in these fields
are from migrant families, primarily Uzbek and Kyrgyz. Children are
generally not found doing hazardous jobs like heavy manufacturing,
construction, or mining.


3. Kazakhstan is a member of the ILO Conventions "On the Worst
Forms of Child Labor" and "On the Minimum Age for Admission to
Employment," and other international agreements concerning child
labor. Kazakhstani law forbids the worst forms of child labor.
Kazakhstan is engaged in a number of efforts to combat the worst
forms of child labor, in partnership with international
organizations and NGOs. Government labor inspectors and NGOs play a
key role in monitoring the observation of children's rights. The
Ministry of Labor is responsible for enforcing child labor laws and
for administrative offences punishable by fines; the Ministry of
Interior is responsible for investigating criminal offenses. The
Ministry of Labor reported no incidents involving illegal child
labor in the first ten months of 2008; government experts have
acknowledged, however, that more needs to be done to combat child
labor in agriculture.


4. International organizations such as the ILO, UNICEF, and UNDP
provide the Government of Kazakhstan with technical assistance in
combating problems of child labor. During 2005-2007, the Ministry
of Labor and NGOs, supported by ILO-IPEX, completed a 3-year
"Regional Program on the Worst Forms of Child Labor." In January
2006, the government established a Committee for Protection of Child
Rights in the Ministry of Education and Science to implement
national policy in the area of the protection of children's rights.
In 2006, UNICEF began a pilot project entitled "Protection of
Children's Rights and Development of a Mechanism for Monitoring
Children's Rights," in partnership with the Ministry of Education
and Science, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Human Rights
Ombudsman's office, local governments, and NGOs. On another front,
local government and law enforcement officers perform inspections to
detect school truants.


5. In 2007, the government signed a two-year agreement with national
employer associations in which the parties committed not to allow
the use of forced labor and the worst forms of child labor, and to
take active efforts to eradicate these forms of labor and develop
alternative employment opportunities for children and their
families. The Ministry of Education's 2007-2011 "Children of
Kazakhstan" program addresses child labor issues and proposed pilot
projects on alternative jobs for children and a series of
Kazakh-language radio programs to raise awareness of the issue.
Over the past two years, local NGOs have partnered with the ILO to

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implement 40 projects designed to prevent the worst forms of child
labor in Kazakhstan.


6. COMMENT: Post is satisfied that the Government of Kazakhstan
takes the issue of child labor seriously. While the problem of
child labor among the migrant community remains a challenge, the
government is making a credible effort to deal with the problem.
Post recommends against any change to Kazakhstan GSP eligibility on
the basis of child labor issues. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND