VZCZCXRO2199
OO RUEHLMC
DE RUEHTG #0258/01 0391714
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081714Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4903
INFO RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0753
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0587
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000258 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/PPC, WHA/EPSC, WHA/CEN, EB, AND DRL/IL (TU 
DANG) 
STATE PASS USAID FOR LAC/CAM 
COMMERCE FOR MSIEGELMAN 
STATE PASS USTR FOR AMALITO 
DEPT. OF LABOR FOR ILAB (TINA MCCARTER AND ANA ASLAN) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EIND ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM SOCI HO
SUBJECT: WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR IN HONDURAS: UPDATE TO 
2005 REPORT 
 
REF: A. 06 STATE 184972 
 
     ¶B. 05 TEGUCIGALPA 02172 
 
 ¶1. SUMMARY:  There has been a lack of political will and 
resources to address adequately the problem of child labor in 
Honduras.  Honduras has not yet completed its list of the 
worst forms of child labor required by International Labor 
Organization (ILO) Convention 182.  The National Plan for the 
Eradication of Child Labor 2001-2006 was never implemented. 
The GOH has not prioritized child labor, as demonstrated by 
its absence from the national budget.  Government officials 
state that over the past year, under the new Zelaya 
administration, political will is strengthening, and that 
work will be undertaken to complete the required ILO list and 
to update the National Plan for the Eradication of Child 
Labor.  However, there is no substantive progress to report 
since Post's last submission in October 2005 (Ref B).  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
CHILD LABOR IN HONDURAS 
 
¶2. Both non-governmental and international organizations 
continue to cite the 2002 Honduran National Institute of 
Statistics (INE) Household Survey as the most up-to-date 
source of statistics on child labor. (Ref B). 
 
¶3. The definition of hazardous conditions remains the same as 
in Ref B. 
 
WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR 
 
¶4. All sources consulted explained that Honduras has not yet 
completed its list of the worst forms of child labor required 
by the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182. 
 The Honduran Congress ratified the Convention in 2001.  ILO 
consultants are still in the process of establishing the 
list, which is due to be completed in March 2007.  Both the 
Ministry of Labor (MOL) and the Special Prosecutor for 
Children agreed that until the list is completed, progress on 
developing and enforcing regulations will be limited. 
 
LEGAL FRAMEWORK 
 
¶5. Honduran laws on child labor are comprehensive and follow 
international guidelines.  On 4 February 2006, the reformed 
Chapter 2 (regarding sexual exploitation) of the Penal Code 
entered into force and was published in La Gaceta (equivalent 
to the Federal Register) (Ref B). 
 
ENFORCEMENT 
 
¶6. The MOL remains limited in its ability to conduct 
inspections, which it ascribes to a lack of resources.  Its 
two main programs related to child labor are: (1) inspections 
conducted on companies within the formal labor sector, and 
(2) evaluation and possible granting of work authorizations 
to minors in certain circumstances (Ref B).  The MOL admits 
that the informal sector, where the brunt of the problem 
lies, is, in practice, out of their reach. 
 
¶7. According the the Special Prosecutor for Children, to date 
the MOL has not brought any cases to her office for 
enforcement.  In Tegucigalpa, the Special Prosecutor is 
currently investigating six cases.  The cases are for the 
most part brought to her office by private citizens.  She 
does not have statistics for the rest of the country.  Joint 
operations among the Special Prosecutor, the police, the 
Honduran Institute for Children and the Family (IHNFA), 
judges and NGOs occur but are also limited.  Additionally, 
the Special Prosecutor stated that children's courts have 
minimal, if any, involvement in child labor cases. 
 
GOVERNMENT OF HONDURAS ACTION 
 
¶8. The National Plan for the Eradication of Child Labor 
2001-2006 was never implemented.  Sources consulted 
(government and non-governmental) stated that the National 
Commission for the Gradual and Progressive Eradication of 
Child Labor met only once in the past five years. 
Nevertheless, they say that the Technical Council, created by 
the Commission to join together government agencies, NGOs and 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000258  002 OF 002 
 
 
international organizations, now is meeting regularly. 
However, the results of these meetings are unclear.  None of 
the sources were able to point to concrete or comprehensive 
actions, but rather to sporadic projects implemented mainly 
by NGOs aimed at certain sectors, such as rescuing children 
who collect trash and helping their reinsertion into school. 
 
¶9. NGO, government and international organization sources 
agreed that the Government of Honduras (GOH) has demonstrated 
greater political will in the last year than in previous 
years.  They point to two examples: (1) working towards 
completing the list of the worst forms of child labor, and 
(2) the reformulation of the National Action Plan for the 
Eradication of Child Labor 2001-2006.  Both activities are 
funded by the ILO and managed by ILO consultants, in 
coordination with the GOH.  However, sources emphasize that 
the GOH has not prioritized child labor, as demonstrated by 
its absence from the national budget. 
 
¶10. The Special Prosecutor and the ILO representative believe 
that one of the major impediments to eradicating child labor 
is the perception held by both the public and the government 
(including the police) that child labor is not a problem. 
Due to cultural patterns and the extreme poverty in Honduras, 
they say that child labor is considered normal.  The Special 
Prosecutor believes a public awareness campaign is necessary. 
 
¶11. COMMENT:  There is no concrete progress to report on GOH 
compliance with international commitments or their own laws 
on child labor eradication.  The GOH has demonstrated good 
intentions but lack of action on child labor eradication 
during the last year.  There is consensus that a child labor 
eradication policy in Honduras should include creation of job 
opportunities for adults, better quality of education for all 
and prevention of school desertion.  The ILO estimated in 
October 2006 that it would cost USD 2.8 billion to fund all 
needed improvements in child education between the ages of 
six and 14 in the country.  Post believes that child labor 
remains a serious problem in Honduras and will continue to 
pressure the government to eradicate the worst forms.  END 
COMMENT. 
FORD