Mauritius MODERATE ADVANCEMENT In 2016, Mauritius made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Government Agalega Islands, Cargados hired additional labor inspectors, now meeting the ILO’s Carajos Shoals, and recommendation for workforce coverage. The Government also Rodrigues are not shown. established a mechanism to coordinate human anti-trafficking efforts and drafted a National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and a National Strategy for Street Working Children. In addition, the Government established an oversight body to monitor the provision of social services in institutional care facilities and shelters, which house orphans and child victims of commercial sexual exploitation. However, children in Mauritius engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. The Government lacks a national policy to address all relevant worst forms of child labor and poor coordination continues to hinder the Government’s efforts to combat child labor. In addition, social programs to combat child labor are insufficient to adequately address the extent of the problem. I. PREVALENCE AND SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD LABOR Children in Mauritius engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking.(1-5) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Mauritius. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report. Table 1. Statistics on Children’s Work and Education Children Age Percent tŽƌŬŝŶŐ;йĂŶĚƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶͿ 5 to 14 Unavailable ƩenĚinŐ ^ĐŚool ;йͿ 5 to 14 Unavailable oŵbininŐ toƌŬ anĚ ^ĐŚool ;йͿ 7 to 14 Unavailable WƌiŵaƌLJ oŵƉleƟon Zate ;йͿ 101.1 ^ŽƵƌĐĞĨŽƌƉƌŝŵĂƌLJĐŽŵƉůĞƟŽŶƌĂƚĞ͗ĂƚĂĨƌŽŵϮϬϭϱ͕ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚďLJhE^K/ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞĨŽƌ^ƚĂƟƐƟĐƐ͕ϮϬϭϲ͘;ϲͿ ĂƚĂ ǁĞƌĞ ƵŶĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĨƌŽŵ hŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͛Ɛ tŽƌŬ WƌŽũĞĐƚ͛Ɛ ĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐ͕ ϮϬϭϲ͘;7Ϳ Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children’s work by sector and activity. Table 2. Overview of Children’s Work by Sector and Activity Sector/Industry Activity ŐƌiĐƵltƵƌe WƌoĚƵĐinŐ anĚ ŚaƌveƐƟnŐ veŐetableƐ ;1, 4, 5, 8Ϳ &eeĚinŐ liveƐtoĐŬ ;ϵͿ &iƐŚinŐ, inĐlƵĚinŐ ĚivinŐ, anĚ ĐaƐƟnŐ netƐ anĚ tƌaƉƐ ;5, 8, 10Ϳ /nĚƵƐtƌLJ toƌŬinŐ in ĨaĐtoƌieƐ anĚ ŵaƐonƌLJ ;8, 11Ϳ ^eƌviĐeƐoŵeƐƟĐ ǁoƌŬ ;1, 5, 8Ϳ toƌŬinŐ in aƉƉaƌel ƐŚoƉƐ anĚ ƌeƐtaƵƌantƐ ;8Ϳ ^tƌeet ǁoƌŬ, inĐlƵĚinŐ venĚinŐ, beŐŐinŐ, anĚ ĐaƌƌLJinŐ ŐooĚƐ in ƉƵbliĐ ŵaƌŬetƐ ;1, 4, 5, 8Ϳ ateŐoƌiĐal toƌƐt &oƌŵƐ oĨ oŵŵeƌĐial ƐedžƵal edžƉloitaƟon, ƐoŵeƟŵeƐ aƐ a ƌeƐƵlt oĨ ŚƵŵan tƌaĸĐŬinŐ ;1-5, 12Ϳ ‡ ŚilĚ >aboƌ UƐe in illiĐit aĐƟviƟeƐ, inĐlƵĚinŐ ƐellinŐ ĚƌƵŐƐ ;5, 8Ϳ ‡ ŚilĚ laboƌ ƵnĚeƌƐtooĚ aƐ tŚe ǁoƌƐt ĨoƌŵƐ oĨ ĐŚilĚ laboƌ ƉĞƌ ƐĞ ƵnĚeƌ ƌƟĐle ϯ;aͿʹ;ĐͿ oĨ />K . 182. 2016 FINDINGS ON THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR 1 Mauritius MODERATE ADVANCEMENT Some children in Mauritius are lured into commercial sexual exploitation by their peers or family members, or through false offers of other employment.(2, 11) Mauritius has never conducted a national child labor survey, and therefore information on the prevalence of child labor in the country is limited.(5) Evidence suggests that incidents of physical and psychological abuse, including corporal punishment of students by teachers, prevent some children from attending school, which increases their risk of engaging in the worst forms of child labor. Because of discrimination, children with disabilities face serious barriers in accessing education.(1, 3, 13-16) II. LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR Mauritius has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3). Table 3. Ratification of International Conventions on Child Labor Convention Ratification />K . 1ϯ8, DiniŵƵŵ Őe />K . 182, toƌƐt &oƌŵƐ oĨ ŚilĚ >aboƌ UE Z UE Z KƉƟonal WƌotoĐol on ƌŵeĚ onŇiĐt UE Z KƉƟonal WƌotoĐol on tŚe ^ale oĨ ŚilĚƌen, ŚilĚ WƌoƐƟtƵƟon anĚ ŚilĚ WoƌnoŐƌaƉŚLJ Waleƌŵo WƌotoĐol on dƌaĸĐŬinŐ in WeƌƐonƐ The Government has established laws and regulations related to child labor, including its worst forms (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Mauritius’ legal framework to adequately protect children from child labor. Table 4. Laws and Regulations on Child Labor Meets International Standard Age Legislation Standards: Yes/No DiniŵƵŵ Őe Ĩoƌ toƌŬ zeƐ 16 ^eĐƟonƐ 6 anĚ 12 oĨ tŚe ŵƉloLJŵent ZiŐŚtƐ Đt ;17Ϳ DiniŵƵŵ Őe Ĩoƌ ,anjaƌĚoƵƐ toƌŬ zeƐ 18 ^eĐƟon 12 oĨ tŚe ŵƉloLJŵent ZiŐŚtƐ Đt ;17Ϳ /ĚenƟĮĐaƟon oĨ ,anjaƌĚoƵƐ zeƐ^eĐƟon 8 oĨ tŚe KĐĐƵƉaƟonal ^aĨetLJ anĚ ,ealtŚ Đt ;18Ϳ KĐĐƵƉaƟonƐ oƌ ĐƟviƟeƐ WƌoŚibiteĚ Ĩoƌ ŚilĚƌen WƌoŚibiƟon oĨ &oƌĐeĚ >aboƌzeƐƌƟĐle 6 oĨ tŚe onƐƟtƵƟon͖ ƌƟĐle 2 oĨ tŚe oŵbaƟnŐ dƌaĸĐŬinŐ in WeƌƐonƐ Đt ;1ϵ, 20Ϳ WƌoŚibiƟon oĨ ŚilĚ dƌaĸĐŬinŐzeƐƌƟĐle 11 oĨ tŚe oŵbaƟnŐ dƌaĸĐŬinŐ in WeƌƐonƐ Đt͖ ƌƟĐle 1ϯ oĨ tŚe ŚilĚ WƌoteĐƟon Đt ;20, 21Ϳ WƌoŚibiƟon oĨ oŵŵeƌĐial ^edžƵal zeƐƌƟĐle 14 oĨ tŚe ŚilĚ WƌoteĐƟon Đt͖ ƌƟĐle 25ϯ oĨ tŚe ƌiŵinal džƉloitaƟon oĨ ŚilĚƌen Code (21, 22Ϳ WƌoŚibiƟon oĨ UƐinŐ CŚildƌen in zeƐƌƟĐleƐ ϯ0.1b-e, ϯ8a, 41.1Ĩ, and 41.2 oĨ tŚe anŐeƌoƵƐ ƌƵŐƐ Đt (2ϯͿ /lliĐit ĐƟviƟeƐ DiniŵƵŵ Őe Ĩoƌ DilitaƌLJ ZeĐƌƵitŵent ^tate CoŵƉƵlƐoƌLJ N/A* ^tate solƵntaƌLJ N/A† Non-Ɛtate CoŵƉƵlƐoƌLJ No CoŵƉƵlƐoƌLJ dƵĐaƟon AŐe zeƐ 16 AƌƟĐle ϯ7.2 oĨ tŚe dƵĐaƟon AĐt (24Ϳ &ƌee WƵbliĐ dƵĐaƟon zeƐ AƌƟĐle ϯ5 oĨ tŚe dƵĐaƟon AĐt (24Ϳ * No ĐonƐĐƌiƉƟon (25Ϳ † No ƐtandinŐ ŵilitaƌLJ (25Ϳ 2 BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL LABOR AFFAIRS Mauritius MODERATE ADVANCEMENT During the reporting period, the Government continued to draft a comprehensive bill to harmonize the existing legal framework related to children’s rights and strengthen legal provisions for child protection.(1, 5, 26, 27) III. ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS ON THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR The Government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor, including its worst forms (Table 5). However, gaps in labor law and criminal law enforcement remain and some enforcement information is not available. Table 5. Agencies Responsible for Child Labor Law Enforcement Organization/Agency Role DiniƐtƌLJ oĨ >aboƌ, /ndƵƐtƌial ZelaƟonƐ, nĨoƌĐe all laboƌ laǁƐ, inĐlƵdinŐ tŚoƐe ƌelated to ĐŚild laboƌ.(5, 12Ϳ ŵƉloLJŵent, and dƌaininŐ (DK>/ZͿ KĸĐe oĨ tŚe KŵbƵdƐƉeƌƐon Ĩoƌ /nveƐƟŐate anLJ ƐƵƐƉeĐted oƌ ƌeƉoƌted ĐaƐe oĨ ĐŚild laboƌ oƌ violaƟon oĨ a ĐŚild͛Ɛ ƌiŐŚtƐ. WƌoƉoƐe laǁƐ CŚildƌen and ƉoliĐieƐ to advanĐe ĐŚildƌen͛Ɛ ƌiŐŚtƐ.(ϯ, 5, 28, 2ϵͿ WoliĐe ƌiŐade Ĩoƌ tŚe WƌoteĐƟon oĨ /nveƐƟŐate ĐƌiŵeƐ oĨ tŚe ǁoƌƐt ĨoƌŵƐ oĨ ĐŚild laboƌ, inĐlƵdinŐ ĐŚild tƌaĸĐŬinŐ and ĐoŵŵeƌĐial ƐedžƵal DinoƌƐ (DinoƌƐ͛ ƌiŐadeͿ edžƉloitaƟon.(ϯ, 5, 27Ϳ Daintain a databaƐe oĨ all tƌaĸĐŬinŐ inĐidentƐ involvinŐ ĐŚildƌen and ƌeĨeƌ all ĐaƐeƐ oĨ ĐoŵŵeƌĐial ƐedžƵal edžƉloitaƟon to tŚe CŚild eveloƉŵent Unit (CUͿ.(ϯ0Ϳ DiniƐtƌLJ oĨ 'endeƌ ƋƵalitLJ, CŚild nĨoƌĐe leŐiƐlaƟon ƌelated to ĐŚildƌen and iŵƉleŵent ƉoliĐieƐ and ƐoĐial ƉƌoŐƌaŵƐ ƌelated to ĐŚild eveloƉŵent and &aŵilLJ telĨaƌe͛Ɛ develoƉŵent. Wƌovide ƐoĐial ƐeƌviĐeƐ to viĐƟŵƐ oĨ tŚe ǁoƌƐt ĨoƌŵƐ oĨ ĐŚild laboƌ, inĐlƵdinŐ ŚƵŵan (DK'Ϳ CŚild eveloƉŵent Unit (CUͿ tƌaĸĐŬinŐ.(5, ϯ0-ϯ2Ϳ KƉeƌate a Đentƌal databaƐe Ĩoƌ ƐŚaƌinŐ inĨoƌŵaƟon and taŬinŐ aĐƟon to addƌeƐƐ ĐŚild laboƌ.(5, ϯ1, ϯ2Ϳ Labor Law Enforcement In 2016, labor law enforcement agencies in Mauritius took actions to combat child labor, including its worst forms (Table 6). Table 6. Labor Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor Overview of Labor Law Enforcement 2015 2016 >aboƌ /nƐƉeĐtoƌate &ƵndinŐΨ1.1 ŵillion (11ͿΨ1.2 ŵillion (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ oĨ >aboƌ /nƐƉeĐtoƌƐ 55 (11Ϳ 85 (ϯϯͿ /nƐƉeĐtoƌate AƵtŚoƌinjed to AƐƐeƐƐ WenalƟeƐ No (11Ϳ No (5Ϳ dƌaininŐ Ĩoƌ >aboƌ /nƐƉeĐtoƌƐ /niƟal dƌaininŐ Ĩoƌ Neǁ ŵƉloLJeeƐzeƐ (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ dƌaininŐ on Neǁ >aǁƐ Zelated to CŚild >aboƌzeƐ (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ ZeĨƌeƐŚeƌ CoƵƌƐeƐ Wƌovided zeƐ (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ oĨ >aboƌ /nƐƉeĐƟonƐ 47ϵ† (11Ϳ 1,67ϯ‡ (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ CondƵĐted at toƌŬƐite 47ϵ† (11Ϳ 1,67ϯ‡ (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ CondƵĐted bLJ eƐŬ ZevieǁƐ 00 NƵŵbeƌ oĨ CŚild >aboƌ siolaƟonƐ &oƵnd 2 (ϯ4Ϳ 0 (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ oĨ CŚild >aboƌ siolaƟonƐ Ĩoƌ tŚiĐŚ WenalƟeƐ teƌe /ŵƉoƐed 0 (11Ϳ N/A (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ oĨ WenalƟeƐ /ŵƉoƐed tŚat teƌe ColleĐted N/A N/A ZoƵƟne /nƐƉeĐƟonƐ CondƵĐted zeƐ (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ ZoƵƟne /nƐƉeĐƟonƐ daƌŐeted No (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ UnannoƵnĐed /nƐƉeĐƟonƐ WeƌŵiƩed zeƐ (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ UnannoƵnĐed /nƐƉeĐƟonƐ CondƵĐted zeƐ (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ CoŵƉlaint DeĐŚaniƐŵ džiƐtƐzeƐ (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ ZeĐiƉƌoĐal ZeĨeƌƌal DeĐŚaniƐŵ džiƐtƐ etǁeen >aboƌ AƵtŚoƌiƟeƐ and ^oĐial ^eƌviĐeƐzeƐ (11ͿzeƐ (5Ϳ † ata aƌe Ĩƌoŵ :anƵaƌLJ 1, 2015, to KĐtobeƌ ϯ1, 2015.(11Ϳ ‡ ata aƌe Ĩƌoŵ :anƵaƌLJ 1, 2016, to KĐtobeƌ ϯ1, 2016.(ϯ4Ϳ 2016 FINDINGS ON THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR 3 Mauritius MODERATE ADVANCEMENT Although the Ministry of Labor, Industrial Relations, Employment, and Training (MOLIRE) works with the Child Development Unit (CDU) and the Minors’ Brigade to refer victims to social service providers, research indicates that these agencies do not coordinate with the Ministry of Education to ensure that victims have access to education.(9, 11, 35) Criminal Law Enforcement In 2016, criminal law enforcement agencies in Mauritius took actions to combat the worst forms of child labor (Table 7). Table 7. Criminal Law Enforcement Efforts Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement 2015 2016 dƌaininŐ Ĩoƌ /nveƐƟŐatoƌƐ /niƟal dƌaininŐ Ĩoƌ Neǁ ŵƉloLJeeƐ UnŬnoǁn zeƐ (5Ϳ dƌaininŐ on Neǁ >aǁƐ Zelated to tŚe toƌƐt &oƌŵƐ oĨ CŚild >aboƌ UnŬnoǁn N/A ZeĨƌeƐŚeƌ CoƵƌƐeƐ Wƌovided UnŬnoǁn (ϵͿ zeƐ (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ oĨ /nveƐƟŐaƟonƐ UnŬnoǁn UnŬnoǁn (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ oĨ siolaƟonƐ &oƵnd UnŬnoǁn UnŬnoǁn (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ oĨ WƌoƐeĐƵƟonƐ /niƟated UnŬnoǁn UnŬnoǁn (5Ϳ NƵŵbeƌ oĨ ConviĐƟonƐ UnŬnoǁn 0 (5Ϳ ZeĐiƉƌoĐal ZeĨeƌƌal DeĐŚaniƐŵ džiƐtƐ etǁeen Cƌiŵinal AƵtŚoƌiƟeƐ and ^oĐial ^eƌviĐeƐzeƐ (27ͿzeƐ (5, 11Ϳ During the reporting period, the Minors’ Brigade, in cooperation with the CDU, received 17 complaints, including eight cases of child labor and four cases of commercial sexual exploitation.(5) In 2016, the police investigated at least three cases of child trafficking and referred three other cases of child trafficking that occurred before the reporting period to the Director of Public Prosecutions.(30) However, the total number of investigations, violations, and prosecutions related to the worst forms of child labor is unknown.