ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES CHILD LABOR

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000088 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR JONATHAN MITCHELL DOL/ILAB FOR TINA MCCARTHER DRL/ILCSR FOR TU DANG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI EAID XL SUBJECT: ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES CHILD LABOR INFORMATION FOR TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ACT (GSP) 2008 REPORT REF: SECSTATE 127448 ¶1. (U) Incidents of the worst forms of child labor are not believed to be a problem in the countries of the Eastern Caribbean. All the countries in the region have enacted comprehensive child protection laws and measures. However, given that poverty levels in the region are rising due to the high cost of living, there may be some isolated incidents of child labor, especially among migrant communities. Our sources in the government and labor unions do not believe that there are any serious incidents of the worst forms of child labor occurring in the region. ¶2. (U) LabOff confirmed with the Ministry of Labor, and the labor unions that there have been no significant changes to last year's submission. Post human rights contacts point out that there is a growing problem of young people dropping out of school and becoming involved in the drug trade. Some children, including children as young as 14, may be working in the maurijana fields common in the northern part of St Vincent. These concerns have been echoed by opposition political figures, but there has been no corroboration of the claims to date. HARDT