† 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

Continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine—which account for the majority of Djibouti's wheat imports—and continued drought in the region have led to rural workers losing livelihoods and rising commodity prices throughout the country. Reports indicate that this has subjected children to higher risks of labor exploitation, including child labor, and has increased the risk of school dropout for 26,500 children, particularly girls. Djibouti is vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate, and children will become increasingly vulnerable to exploitation as the country experiences more climate change-related weather events and trends such as droughts, floods, and sea level rise. Lastly, migrant children, including undocumented migrant girls, are vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation in Djibouti City, along the Ethiopia-Djibouti trucking corridor.

Barriers to Education Access

Requirements for documentation and birth registration can be barriers to accessing education because in practice, migrant children and refugees without UN High Commissioner for Refugees documentation cannot attend public schools, and children in rural areas and street children without birth registration documents can attend school but cannot take exams.

* Country has no conscription

The Labor Code’s minimum age provision applies only to children who perform work under a formal employment agreement, which does not conform to international standards requiring the protection of all children under the minimum age for work. In addition, while Djibouti's Labor Code contains a hazardous work list, it only applies to domestic work, work in hotels, and work in bars, omitting hazardous activities like street work, in which children are known to be engaged in the country. Article 111 in the Labor Code grants authority to the Minister of Labor to publish a hazardous work list enumerating additional hazardous sectors, which has not yet been done. Furthermore, laws do not specifically criminalize the use of a child for prostitution.

It is unknown how many labor inspectors conducted worksite inspections, or whether child labor violations were found. It is also unknown whether investigations into suspected cases of the worst forms of child labor were conducted, prosecutions were initiated, or perpetrators were convicted.

‡ The government had other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor.

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 Djibouti.
‡ The government had other programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor.

The Government of Djibouti has interfered in union activities and has prevented union leaders from leaving the country to attend international union conferences. These factors can hinder workers' ability to report child labor, particularly in street work and the informal economy.

Download the 2023 Bibliography