VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0090/01 0361945
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051944Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0303
INFO RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000090 
 
SIPDIS 
WHA/CAR FOR KAREN MCISAAC 
DOL/ILAB FOR LEYLA STROTKAMP, RACHEL RIGBY AND TINA MCCARTER 
DRL/ILCSR FOR SARAH MORGAN 
G/TIP FOR LUIS CDEBACA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB EIND ETRD KTIP PHUM SOCI XL
SUBJECT: ST. KTTS - INFORMATION ON CHILD LABOR AND FORCED LABOR FOR 
DOL CONGRESSIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 
 
REF: 09 SECSTATE 131997 
 
¶1. Summary:  Child labor is not an issue in St. Kitts.  Post has 
found no evidence of exploitative child labor or forced labor in 
St. Kitts.  The constitution prohibits slavery, servitude, and 
forced labor of children, and the Department of Labor effectively 
enforced this law in practice.  There were no reported complaints 
of child labor during the year.  The minimum legal working age is 
16 years.  The Department of Labor relied heavily on school truancy 
officers and the Community Affairs Division to monitor compliance, 
which they generally did effectively.  These inspectors may take 
legal action against an employer who is found to have underage 
workers. According to the chief labor inspector, no underage 
employment cases were filed during the past few years.  There were 
no changes to the law regarding child labor issues during the last 
year. 
 
 
 
Juveniles worked in agriculture, domestic service, and illicit 
activities. In rural areas where families engaged in livestock 
farming and vegetable production, children often were required to 
assist as part of family efforts at subsistence.  Girls often 
engaged in domestic service.  Such labor included family-oriented 
work where children were made to look after younger siblings or 
ailing parents and grandparents at the expense of their schooling. 
Children often worked in other households as domestic servants or 
babysitters.  In general society did not consider domestic work 
exploitive child labor.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
¶2. Tasking I Use of Forced or Child Labor 
 
 
 
a. Type of Goods:  None, no cases of such production were reported 
in St. Kitts. 
 
 
 
b. Type of Exploitation Found in the Production of Goods:  No 
reported cases. 
 
 
 
c. Sources of Information and Years:  No reported cases. 
 
 
 
d. Narrative Description:  There were no reported incidents of 
child or forced labor in St. Kitts during the last calendar year. 
 
 
 
e. Prevalence:  Although child labor as defined under the ILO 
Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor is not occurring in 
St. Kitts according to the Labor Commissioner's office, there were 
some children who were employed after school and on the weekends. 
Helping out in the family business or farm is quite common in St. 
Kitts.  But, children attend school until age 16 and school truancy 
officers follow up with delinquent children to ensure that they 
attend school. 
 
 
 
f. Efforts Designed to Combat Forced Labor of Adults or children in 
the Production of Goods:  The Ministry of Education and the 
Ministry of Social Development operate special programs for at risk 
children providing vocational educational opportunities to children 
who are failing in the public schools.  Such programs provide an 
alternative to child labor and aim to keep children in school. 
 
 
 
¶2.  Tasking II. 
 
 
 
a. Prevalence and Sectoral Distribution of Exploitive Child Labor: 
 
 
 
(1)       In what sectors (not related to the production of goods) 
 
 
were children involved in exploitive labor?  No reported cases. 
 
 
 
(2)       Did the Government collect or publish data on exploitive 
child labor?  If so, will the government provide the data set to 
DOL for further analysis?   No reported cases. 
 
 
 
b. Laws and Regulations: 
 
 
 
(1)   What new laws or regulations were enacted in regard to 
exploitive child labor over the past year?  Were the changes 
improvements in the legal and regulatory framework?   None. 
 
 
 
(2)   Is the country's legal and regulatory framework adequate for 
addressing exploitive child labor?  Child labor cases are dealt 
with by the Ministry of Labor's labor inspector's office.  They are 
prepared to deal with any such cases reported to them, but have not 
received any reports in the last few years. 
 
 
 
c. Institutions and Mechanism for Enforcement: 
 
 
 
       2C, Section I: Hazardous Child Labor: 
 
 
 
(1)   What agency/agencies was/were responsible for the enforcement 
of laws relating to hazardous child labor?  The Ministry of Labor 
has the prime responsibility along with the Ministry of Social 
Development, which handles cases of suspected child abuse.  But 
there were no reported cases. 
 
 
 
(2)   If multiple agencies were responsible for enforcement, was 
there mechanism for exchanging information?  Assess their 
effectiveness.  The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social 
Development would work together if they received any complaints of 
child labor cases. Did the country maintain a mechanism for making 
complaints about hazardous child labor violations?  If so, how many 
complaints were received in the reporting period?  No complaints 
were received. 
 
 
 
(3)   What amount of funding was provided to agencies responsible 
for inspections?  Was this amount adequate?  Did inspectors have 
sufficient office facilities, transportation, fuel, and other 
necessities to carry out inspections?   Funding is adequate. 
 
 
 
(4)   How many inspectors did the government employ?  Was the 
number of inspectors adequate?  The government of St. Kitts has six 
labor inspectors, who cover the gamete of possible labor 
violations, including child labor.  The number of inspectors is not 
adequate but the government is hiring more inspectors. The labor 
commissioner reported to LABOFF that they had not seen any child 
labor violations in recent years. 
 
 
 
(5)   How many inspections involving child labor were carried out? 
If possible, please provide breakdown of complaint-driven versus 
random, government-initiated inspections.  Were inspections carried 
out in sectors in which children work?  Was the number of 
inspections adequate?   There were no inspections conducted as 
there were no reported cases. 
 
 
 
(6)   How many children were removed/assisted as a result of 
inspections?  Were these children actually provided or referred for 
services as a result (as opposed to simply fired)?  There were no 
 
 
inspections and no removals as a result of inspections. 
 
 
 
(7)   How many child labor cases or "prosecutions" were opened? No 
cases were opened. 
 
 
 
(8)   How many child labor cases were closed or resolved? No cases 
reported. 
 
 
 
(9)   How many violations were found or "convictions" reached? No 
violations were found. 
 
 
 
(10)  What is the average length of time it took to resolve child 
labor cases? Unclear as there have been no cases reported. 
 
 
 
(11)  In cases in which violations were found, were penalties 
actually applied, either through fines paid or jail sentence 
served?  Did such sentences meet penalties established in the law? 
No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(12)  Did the experience regarding questions 7 through 10 above 
reflect a commitment to combat exploitive child labor? Yes, the 
labor ministry is committed to ensuring that child labor does not 
become a problem. 
 
 
 
(13)   Did government offer any training for investigators or 
others responsible for enforcement?  If so, what (if any) impact 
have these trainings had? No special programs have been set up. 
 
 
 
      2C, Section II: Forced Child Labor: 
 
 
 
(1)   What agency/agencies was/were responsible for the enforcement 
of laws relating to forced child labor?  The Ministry of Labor 
would take the lead; the Ministry of Social Development takes the 
lead on child abuse cases. 
 
 
 
(2)   If multiple agencies were responsible for enforcement, were 
there mechanisms for exchanging information?  Assess their 
effectiveness.  Although there were no cases reported, it appears 
that the Ministry of Labor is prepared to deal with Child labor 
cases. 
 
 
 
(3)   Did the country maintain a mechanism for making complaints 
about forced child labor violations?  If so, how many complaints 
were received in the reporting period?  There is no separate 
reporting mechanism.  The Ministry takes action if they receive a 
complaint from the public.  They did not receive any complaints in 
recent years. 
 
 
 
(4)   What amount of funding was provided to agencies responsible 
for inspections?  Was this amount adequate?  Did inspectors have 
sufficient office facilities, transportation, fuel, and other 
necessities to carry out inspections? Funding appears adequate. 
 
 
 
(5)   How many inspectors did the government employ?  Was the 
number of inspectors adequate?  The Ministry of Labor has 11 
inspectors who cover the whole range of possible labor violations, 
including Child Labor.  The number of inspectors is inadequate to 
fully inspect all potential worksites. 
 
 
(6)   How many inspections involving child labor were carried out? 
If possible, please provide breakdown of complaint-driven versus 
random, government-initiated inspections.  Were inspections carried 
out in sectors in which children work?  Was the number of 
inspections adequate?   No inspections were carried out. 
 
 
 
(7)   How many children were removed/assisted as a result of 
inspections?  Were these children actually provided or referred for 
services as a result (as opposed to simply fired)?  No children 
were rescued as there were no cases opened. 
 
 
 
(8)   How many child labor cases or "prosecutions" were opened? 
None reported. 
 
 
 
(9)   How many child labor cases were closed or resolved?  None 
reported. 
 
 
 
(10)  How many violations were found or "convictions" reached?  No 
violations were reported. 
 
 
 
(11)  What is the average length of time it took to resolve child 
labor cases? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(12)  In cases in which violations were found, were penalties 
actually applied, either through fines paid or jail sentence 
served?  Did such sentences meet penalties established in the law? 
No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(13)  Did the experience regarding questions 7 through 10 above 
reflect a commitment to combat exploitive child labor? Yes, the 
government seems committed to ensuring that Child Labor does not 
become a problem. 
 
 
 
(14)   Did government offer any training for investigators or 
others responsible for enforcement?  If so, what (if any) impact 
have these trainings had? No particular training was offered, other 
than an ILO sponsored workshop a few years ago when St. Kitts 
signed the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. 
 
 
 
d. Institutional Mechanism for Effective Enforcement: 
 
 
 
       2D, Section I: Child Trafficking: 
 
 
 
(1)   Did the country have agencies or personnel dedicated to 
enforcement of child trafficking?  How many investigators/social 
workers/dedicated police officers did the government employ to 
conduct investigations?  If there were no dedicated agencies or 
personnel, provide an estimate of the number of people who were 
responsible for such investigations.  Was the number of 
investigators adequate?  Child trafficking is not dealt with by 
special inspectors or personnel.  Police would take the lead in any 
trafficking investigation.  There were no reported cases. 
 
 
 
(2)   How much funding was provided agencies responsible for 
investigating child trafficking?  Was this amount adequate?  Did 
investigators have sufficient office facilities, transportation, 
fuel, and other necessities to carry out investigations?   There is 
 
 
no special funding for Child Trafficking.  But the police appear to 
have sufficient funding. 
 
 
 
(3)   Did the country maintain a hotline or other mechanism for 
reporting child trafficking violations?  If so, how many complaints 
were received in the reporting period?  No hotline exists for child 
trafficking cases. 
 
 
 
(4)   How many investigations were opened in regard to child 
trafficking?  Was the number of investigations adequate?  No 
inspections took place. 
 
 
 
(5)   How many children were rescued as a result?  No inspections 
took place. 
 
 
 
(6)   How many arrests were made or other kinds of prosecutions 
carried out?  No arrests were made. 
 
 
 
(7)   How many cases were closed or resolved? No cases were 
reported. 
 
 
 
(8)   How many convictions? No convictions were reported. 
 
 
 
(9)   Did sentences imposed meet standards established in the legal 
framework? No convictions were reported.  Child trafficking is not 
a separate offense from trafficking in general. 
 
 
 
(10)  Were sentences imposed actually served? No arrests were made. 
 
 
 
 
(11)  What is the average length of time it takes to resolve cases 
of child trafficking?  No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(12)  Did the government offer any training for investigators or 
others responsible for enforcement of child trafficking?  If so 
what was the impact (if any) of these trainings?  No special 
programs exist. 
 
 
 
(13)  If the country experienced armed conflict during the 
reporting period or in the recent past involving the use of child 
soldiers, what actions were taken to penalize those responsible? 
Were these actions adequate or meaningful given the situation? 
There has been no armed conflict in recent decades. 
 
 
 
       2D, Section II: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children 
(CSEC): 
 
 
 
(1)   Did the country have agencies or personnel dedicated to 
enforcement of CSEC?  How many investigators/social 
workers/dedicated police officers did the government employ to 
conduct investigations?  If there were no dedicated agencies or 
personnel, provide an estimate of the number of people who were 
responsible for such investigations.  Was the number of 
investigators adequate?  There is no special enforcement agency. 
Police would refer suspected cases of trafficking to the Ministry 
of Social Development which oversees child abuse cases.  There are 
no reports of CSEC in St. Kitts.  There may be some isolated 
incidences of underage prostitution as prostitution does occur in 
 
 
St. Kitts.  Many of the commercial sex workers are from other 
islands.  There is no evidence of organized trafficking of women or 
children for commercial sex work. 
 
 
 
(2) How much funding was provided agencies responsible for 
investigating CSEC?  Was this amount adequate?  Did investigators 
have sufficient office facilities, transportation, fuel, and other 
necessities to carry out investigations?  No dedicated funding 
exists.  Funding for police seems adequate. 
 
 
 
(3) Did the country maintain a hotline or other mechanism for 
reporting CSEC violations?  If so, how many complaints were 
received in the reporting period? No hotline exists. 
 
 
 
(4) How many investigations were opened in regard to CSEC?  Was the 
number of investigations adequate? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(5) How many children were rescued as a result? No cases were 
reported. 
 
 
 
(6) How many arrests were made or other kinds of prosecutions 
carried out? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(7) How many cases were closed or resolved? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(8) How many convictions? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(9) Did sentences imposed meet standards established in the legal 
framework? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(10)  Were sentences imposed actually served? No cases were 
reported. 
 
 
 
(11)   What is the average length of time it takes to resolve cases 
of CSEC? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(12)   Did the government offer any training for investigators or 
others responsible for enforcement of CSEC?  If so what was the 
impact (if any) of these trainings?  No special program exists. 
 
 
 
(13)   If the country experienced armed conflict during the 
reporting period or in the recent past involving the use of child 
soldiers, what actions were taken to penalize those responsible? 
Were these actions adequate or meaningful given the situation? No 
armed conflict occurred in recent decades. 
 
 
 
       2D, Section III: Use of Children in Illicit Activities: 
 
 
 
(1)   Did the country have agencies or personnel dedicated to 
enforcement of the use of children in illicit activities?  How many 
investigators/social workers/dedicated police officers did the 
government employ to conduct investigations?  If there were no 
dedicated agencies or personnel, provide an estimate of the number 
of people who were responsible for such investigations.  Was the 
number of investigators adequate?  There is no dedicated agency 
devoted to such investigations.  The Police would refer suspected 
 
 
child abuse cases to the Ministry of Social Development for follow 
up. 
 
 
 
(2)   How much funding was provided agencies responsible for 
investigating the use of children in illicit activities?  Was this 
amount adequate?  Did investigators have sufficient office 
facilities, transportation, fuel, and other necessities to carry 
out investigations? There is adequate funding. 
 
 
 
(3)   Did the country maintain a hotline or other mechanism for 
reporting the use of children in illicit activities violations?  If 
so, how many complaints were received in the reporting period? No 
separate hotline exists. 
 
 
 
(4)   How many investigations were opened in regard to the use of 
children in illicit activities?  Was the number of investigations 
adequate?  No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(5)   How many children were rescued as a result? No cases were 
reported. 
 
 
 
(6)   How many arrests were made or other kinds of prosecutions 
carried out? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(7)   How many cases were closed or resolved? No cases were 
reported. 
 
 
 
(8)   How many convictions? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(9)   Did sentences imposed meet standards established in the legal 
framework? No cases were reported. 
 
 
 
(10)  Were sentences imposed actually served? No cases were 
reported. 
 
 
 
(11)  What is the average length of time it takes to resolve cases 
of the use of children in illicit activities? No cases were 
reported. 
 
 
 
(12)  Did the government offer any training for investigators or 
others responsible for enforcement of the use of children in 
illicit activities?  If so what was the impact (if any) of these 
trainings?  No special program exists. 
 
 
 
(13)  If the country experienced armed conflict during the 
reporting period or in the recent past involving the use of child 
soldiers, what actions were taken to penalize those responsible? 
Were these actions adequate or meaningful given the situation? No 
armed conflict during the last few decades. 
 
 
 
e.  Government Policies on Child Labor: 
 
 
 
(1)   Did the government have a policy or plan that specifically 
addresses exploitive child labor?  Please describe.  The government 
does not have an exploitative child labor action plan. 
 
 
(2)   Did the country incorporate exploitive child labor 
specifically as an issue to be addressed in poverty reduction, 
development, educational or other social policies, such as Poverty 
Reduction Strategy Papers, etc?  Please describe.  The government 
does not have an exploitative child labor plan. 
 
 
 
(3)   Did the government provide funding to the plans described 
above?  Please describe the amount and whether it was sufficient to 
carry out the planned activities.  No funds were dedicated to these 
programs. 
 
 
 
(4)   Did the government provide non-monetary support to child 
labor plans.  Please describe. No such provisions were made. 
 
 
 
(5)   Provide any additional information about the status and 
effectiveness of the government's policies or plans during the 
reporting period in regard to exploitive child labor. The 
government is prepared to address the issue if it becomes a 
problem. 
 
 
 
(6)   Did the government participate in any commissions or task 
forces regarding exploitive child labor?  Was the commission active 
and/or effective?  No special task force has been set up. 
 
 
 
(7)   Did the government sign a bilateral, regional, or 
international agreement to combat trafficking?  The Government has 
ratified the applicable international agreements on trafficking and 
the ILO convention on the worst forms of child labor. 
 
 
 
f. Social Programs to Eliminate or Prevent Child Labor: 
 
 
 
(1)   Did the government implement any programs specifically to 
address the worst forms of child labor?  No special programs have 
been enacted. 
 
 
 
(2)   Did the country incorporate child labor specifically as an 
issue to be addressed in poverty reduction, development, 
educational or other social programs, such as conditional cash 
transfer programs or eligibility for school meals, etc?  Please 
describe.  No such programs exist. 
 
 
 
(3)   Did the government provide funding to the programs described 
above?  If so, describe the amount and whether it was sufficient to 
carry out the planned activities. No such programs exist. 
 
 
 
(4)   Did the government provide non-monetary support to child 
labor programs?  Please describe. No such programs exist. 
 
 
 
(5)   Provide any additional information about the status and 
effectiveness of the government's activities in relation to the 
programs described above. and describe and assess the effectiveness 
of these services.  No such programs exist. 
 
 
 
(6)   If the government signed one or more bilateral, regional or 
international agreements to combat trafficking, what steps did it 
take to implement such agreements?  Did the agreements result in 
tangible improvements?  If so, please describe.  The government has 
signed the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and has 
 
 
taken steps to ensure that it is compliance. 
 
 
 
g. Continual Progress: 
 
 
 
St. Kitts does not have a child labor problem but is committed to 
ensuring that exploitative child labor does not take root in St. 
Kitts.  The government is justly proud of its high school 
attendance rate. 
HARDT