Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports
Colombia
Significant Advancement
In 2023, Colombia made significant advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Ministry of Labor provided technical assistance and awareness-raising campaigns on child labor issues in over 550 municipalities. The Colombian Family Welfare Institute reached over 100,000 children and adolescents vulnerable to recruitment by armed or organized criminal groups through a program which uses cultural, sports, and science events. The government also introduced a new national action plan that provides monetary support to vulnerable groups affected by armed conflict, and another national action plan to guarantee uninterrupted education and safe spaces at schools in areas affected by armed conflict. In addition, the Governments of Colombia and Ecuador designed new data collection and assistance mechanisms to support children engaged in child labor in mining in the border region between the two countries. However, despite these efforts, the number of labor inspectors is insufficient to fully cover a workforce of over 24.6 million workers. In addition, social programs in Colombia are not adequate to address the scope of the country's child labor problem, particularly in areas impacted by armed conflict. Moreover, migrant children, refugee children, and children separated from their families require additional assistance to prevent them from being recruited and used by criminal or armed groups, including for illicit activities and commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and forced labor.
| Children | Age | Percent of Population |
|---|---|---|
| Working | 5 to 14 | 1.3% (110,393) |
| Boys | 1.6% | |
| Girls | 1.1% | |
| Urban | 0.6% | |
| Rural | 3.3% | |
| Hazardous Work by Children | 15 to 17 | 10.3% (258,990) |
| Boys | 14.7% | |
| Girls | 5.7% | |
| Urban | 7.0% | |
| Rural | 19.3% | |
| Attending School | 5 to 14 | 93.4% |
| Combining Work and School | 7 to 14 | 1.4% |
| Sector/Industry | Percent of Population |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | 36.9% |
| Industry | 22.5% |
| Services | 40.6% |
| Sector/Industry | Activity |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Working in animal husbandry,† forestry, hunting, fishing,† and agriculture,† including in the production of coca, coffee, sugarcane,† pome and stone fruits, and grapes. |
| Industry | Mining† coal, emeralds, and gold. Construction,† particularly in large-scale projects. Producing bricks. |
| Services | Street work,† including vending and helping shoppers carry bags in urban markets,† begging,† and guarding cars and motorcycles.† Domestic work,† including caring for children,† cooking, gardening, and shopping for the home. Working in retail establishments, hotels, and restaurants. Recycling.† |
| Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ | Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Use in the production of pornography. Forced street vending and forced begging. Use in illicit activities by illegal armed groups and criminal organizations, including committing homicides, extortions, trafficking drugs, and the production of coca (stimulant plant), each sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Recruitment of children by non-state armed groups for use in armed conflict. |
† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.
Children at Higher Risk
In Colombia, migrant, refugee, and indigenous children are economically disadvantaged and, as a result, are more vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor. Venezuelan and Ecuadorian migrant and refugee children are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation and street work. Refugee and unaccompanied migrant children, as well as those who got separated from their families while transiting through areas of the country where state institutions have limited capacity, are at greater risk of being recruited and used by criminal organizations and armed groups for labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Afro-Colombian and indigenous children in the departments of Arauca, Cauca, Chocó, Córdoba, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, and Valle del Cauca are at high risk of child soldier recruitment or use by non-state groups for armed conflict, as well as recruitment by criminal organizations. In addition, girls living in areas with foreign tourism, in mining communities, and in areas with large construction projects are vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and forced labor.
Barriers to Education Access
Children in rural and marginalized urban parts of the country face barriers to accessing education due to poor school infrastructure, violence at school, and living long distances from schools combined with a lack of adequate transportation. While children under age 18 are eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), migrant and refugee children face difficulties in obtaining TPS—without which they cannot attend school—due to their adult guardians' lack of familiarity with the process, thereby increasing barriers to education access and vulnerability to child labor. In 2023, 135,000 migrant children from Venezuela did not attend school. In addition, 27 attacks on schools took place and 18 schools have been used by armed groups in 2023.
| Standard | Age | Meets International Standards | Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age for Work | 15 | ✓ | Article 35 of the Child and Adolescence Code |
| Minimum Age for Hazardous Work | 18 | ✓ | Article 117 of the Child and Adolescence Code |
| Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children | ✓ | Article 3 of Resolution 1796 | |
| Prohibition of Slavery, Debt Bondage, and Forced Labor | ✓ | Article 17 of the Constitution; Articles 141 and 188A of the Penal Code | |
| Prohibition of Child Trafficking | ✓ | Article 17 of the Constitution; Articles 188A–188C and 231 of the Penal Code; Law No. 2168 | |
| Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children | ✓ | Articles 213–219B of the Penal Code | |
| Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities | ✓ | Articles 162, 188D, and 384 of the Penal Code | |
| Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment | 18 | ✓ | Article 81 of Law 1861 |
| Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military | ✓ | Article 4 of Law 1861 | |
| Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups | ✓ | Article 162 of the Penal Code; Article 20 of the Child and Adolescence Code; Article 14 of Law 418 | |
| Compulsory Education Age | 18 | ✓ | Decree 4807 of 2011 |
| Free Public Education | ✓ | Articles 2.3.1.6.4.1 and 2.3.1.6.4.2 of Decree 1075; Article 1 of Decree 4807; Article 28 of the Child and Adolescence Code |
As the minimum age for work is lower than the compulsory education age, children may be encouraged to leave school before the completion of compulsory education.
| Organization/Agency | Role & Activities |
|---|
| Ministry of Labor (MOL): Receives complaints of labor law violations and conducts labor inspections, including inspections to verify labor conditions for adolescent workers and compliance with other child labor provisions through its Inspection, Monitoring, Control, and Territorial Management Directorate. Also oversees the Internal Working Group on Child Labor Eradication. Additionally, the Directorate of Fundamental Rights' Unit for Labor Protections operates the Comprehensive Child Labor Information System (SIRITI), a child labor monitoring system that identifies children engaged in or at risk of child labor. |
| Attorney General’s Office (AGO): Investigates and prosecutes cases of child recruitment for use in armed conflict and illicit activities, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking. With support from the Office's Technical Investigation Unit, advises the Attorney General in the design of policies and strategies related to the role of judicial police investigators. Oversees the Articulation Group for Addressing Trafficking in Persons, which includes prosecutors, analysts, and judicial police engaged in addressing organized crime and human trafficking. |
| Overview of Enforcement Efforts | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Has a Labor Inspectorate | Yes |
| Able to Assess Civil Penalties | Yes |
| Routinely Conducted Worksite Inspections | Yes |
| Unannounced Inspections Permitted | Yes |
| Has a Complaint Mechanism | Yes |
| Imposed Penalties for Child Labor Violations | Yes |
| Conducted Criminal Investigations for Worst Forms of Child Labor Crimes | Yes |
| Imposed Penalties for Worst Forms of Child Labor Crimes | Yes |
In 2023, 1,159 labor inspectors conducted an unknown number of worksite inspections and found 7 child labor violations. The AGO also conducted 2,248 investigations into suspected cases of the worst forms of child labor, initiated 734 prosecutions, and convicted 1,908 perpetrators.
| Coordinating Body | Role & Activities |
|---|
| Interagency Committee for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Protection of the Adolescent Worker (CIETI): Coordinates efforts to address the worst forms of child labor. Chaired by MOL, includes 21 government agencies and representatives from trade unions, business associations, and civil society organizations. Oversees department-level CIETIs throughout the country, each comprising municipal-level committees. In 2023, the committee convened twice. |
| Policy | Description & Activities |
|---|
| National Policy Guidelines to Prevent and Eradicate Child Labor and Protect the Adolescent Worker (2017–2027): Aims to address child labor in the agriculture sector, develop child labor prevention strategies, improve the quality and coverage of child protection services, protect adolescent workers from hazardous work, create strategies to address child labor in domestic work, and establish evaluation and monitoring mechanisms to assess progress. Contains a roadmap to prevent and eliminate child labor in mining and a cooperative agreement between the Ministry of Mining and Energy and the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar [ICBF]) to prevent child labor in mining. In 2023, MOL provided targeted support to the department of la Guajira through CIETI. It also provided a $25,000 grant to the department and reported that it would address 308 cases of child labor. |
| National Strategy for the Prevention and Eradication of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (2018–2028): Guides government actions at the national, departmental, and municipal levels for the prevention of commercial sexual exploitation, survivor assistance, and the strengthening of sentencing for perpetrators. As a core part of this strategy, the government maintains an "Eyes in All Places" (Ojos en Todas Partes) public awareness campaign, which aims to prevent child sex tourism. The campaign is led by MOL through the National Consulting Interagency Committee. The Committee consists of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism; ICBF; the Attorney General's Office; the National Police; UNICEF; the Foundation Renacer; and regional and municipal authorities. |
| National Policy for the Prevention of Recruitment, Use, and Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents by Illegal Armed Groups of Organized Criminal Groups (2018–2028): Directs government actions to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, address violence against children, and improve interagency coordination. The government also has a roadmap that establishes protocols to assist child survivors of armed conflict. |
‡ The government has other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor.
| Program | Description & Activities |
|---|
| Campaigns Against Child Labor:† ICBF campaigns to increase coordination for the protection of children and adolescents with other government agencies at the national, departmental, and municipal levels, while leading the Family National Welfare System. In 2023, ICBF organized awareness-raising events and workshops, conducted capacity building exercises, and distributed materials. |
| Programs Addressing Trafficking in Persons:† Aim to raise awareness of child trafficking crimes. AGO oversees the “Don’t be Fooled" (#EsoEsCuento) public awareness campaign to prevent human trafficking. The National Police also implement their own public awareness and child protection program, “Open Your Eyes” (Abre Tus Ojos). The program aims to protect children from exploitation in the worst forms of child labor. In 2023, the National Police continued organizing workshops, as well as recreational and sports events, for children, adolescents, parents, and teachers. In 2023, the Ministry of Interior launched the "What is Trafficking?” (De Que Trata la Trata) public awareness campaign to educate the public on human trafficking and available resources, including a national anti-trafficking hotline. |
| Development for Social Prosperity Programs:† Families in Action (Familias en Acción) uses a conditional cash transfer program to address poverty and build human capital; United Network (Red Unidos) coordinates actions to reduce inequality and end extreme poverty; Healthy Generations (Generaciones con Bienestar) operates a children’s rights program offering cultural and recreational activities for children ages 6 to 17 identified as vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor; and Youth in Action (Jóvenes en Acción) provides technical job training and conditional cash transfers to vulnerable urban youth ages 16 to 24. |
For information about USDOL’s projects to address child labor around the world, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/ilab-project-page-search
† Program is funded by the Government of Colombia.
‡ The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor.
| Area | Suggested Action |
|---|---|
| Legal Framework | Raise the minimum age for work from age 15 to age 18 to align with the compulsory education age. |
| Enforcement | Increase the number of labor inspectors from 1,159 to 1,642 to ensure adequate coverage of the labor force of approximately 24.6 million workers. |
| Publish information on the number of children removed from child labor due to inspections and the number of children referred to social services. | |
| Ensure that labor inspectors do not encounter any barriers to conduct inspections in private residences if child labor is suspected. | |
| Enhance the Attorney General's Office's case management system to track entire criminal proceedings beyond sentencing, to include information on the sentences and penalties handed down after conviction. | |
| Ensure that all children rescued from child labor situations are provided social services. | |
| Social Programs | Improve education access for all children, especially those in rural and marginalized urban environments, including by ensuring adequate transportation to school, improving school infrastructure, and addressing violence affecting school attendance. |
| Expand social programs to sufficiently address the scope of the worst forms of child labor, particularly commercial sexual exploitation, forced begging, and recruitment for use in illicit activities. |
Violence, threats, harassment, killings, and other practices against trade unionists are common in Colombia. The government did not adequately enforce laws protecting freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, resulting in a continued high degree of impunity for violators. As labor unions are integral to reporting and advocacy on the identification and prevention of child labor, violations of child labor laws and other labor abuses may go undetected when unions’ ability to operate freely is curtailed.
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