Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Article 1, paragraph 1, and Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee refers to its previous observation and notes the indications given by the Government to the effect that it has drawn the attention of the Social Welfare and Research Institute (IBESR) to the need to work towards the suppression in practice of domestic and forced or compulsory labour imposed on children below the statutory employment age (known as "restavek"). The Committee notes the Government's renewed commitment to communicate statistics in respect of the activities of the IBESR, the municipal authorities and the labour courts, and to conduct an exhaustive study into general working conditions. The Committee trusts that the Government will make every effort to provide this information in its next report. The Committee reminds the Government that it may request the technical assistance of the ILO to overcome any difficulties it may experience in the application of the Convention in this respect.

Article 25. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on any court proceedings instituted or sentences enforced in respect of the illegal exaction of forced or compulsory labour.