Although the problem does not appear to be widespread, children are engaged in child labor, including in agriculture, in Trinidad and Tobago. Children are also engaged in the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking.(1-3) Table 1 provides key indicators on children's work and education in Trinidad and Tobago.

Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2010, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2015. (4)

Source for all other data: Understanding Children's Work Project's analysis of statistics from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 3, 2006. (5)

Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.

* Evidence of this activity is limited and/or the extent of the problem is unknown.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.

A lack of data on the nature and prevalence of the worst forms of child labor precludes the development of policies and programs that address child labor issues, including in agriculture, garbage scavenging, and commercial sexual exploitation. While the Government has previously expressed interest in conducting a National Youth Activity Survey that would inform such policies and programs, it has yet to produce do so. (10)

There is limited evidence that girls from the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Venezuela, and Colombia are subject to commercial sexual exploitation in brothels and clubs in Trinidad and Tobago as a result of human trafficking. (2)

Trinidad and Tobago has ratified most key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).

Trinidad and Tobago has not ratified the UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

The Government has established laws and regulations related to child labor, including its worst forms (Table 4).

* No conscription (16)

Trinidad and Tobago's Miscellaneous Provisions (Minimum Age for Admission to Employment) Act sets the minimum age for employment at 16. (11) However, current legislation does not establish a clear minimum age for hazardous work. The Government has not developed legislation on the prohibition of hazardous occupations and activities for children, even though it has reportedly been developing a hazardous occupations and activities list since 2004. (7, 18)

The Children Act, which was passed in 2012 to replace the Children Act of 1925 and to strengthen legislative frameworks that protect children's rights, still requires "proclamation" by the President to take effect. (1)

Trinidad and Tobago has no compulsory military service and the minimum age for recruitment into the armed forces is 18. However, those between the ages of 16 and 18 who are willing to join may do so with written approval from a parent or guardian. (19)

The Education Act provides for free and compulsory schooling for children ages 6 to 12. (17, 18, 20) Children in Trinidad and Tobago are required to attend school only up to age 12. This standard makes children ages 13 through 15 vulnerable to child labor, as they are not required to attend school but are not legally permitted to work. (7, 18) The Children Act seeks to amend the Education Act by raising the minimum age of compulsory education to 16, making it commensurate with the minimum age for work. (1, 18)

The Government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor, including its worst forms (Table 5).

Law enforcement agencies in Trinidad and Tobago took actions to combat child labor, including its worst forms.

Labor Law Enforcement
In 2014, MOLSMED employed 14 labor inspectors in its Labor Inspectorate Unit. The number of labor inspectors per worker is adequate as there is not a widespread child labor problem in the country. These inspectors carried out 704 inspections in 2014, and they found no cases of child labor. (1) Inspectors can carry out unannounced inspections in all sectors, including on private farms. Inspectors can also enter private homes in response to a complaint. (8) MOLSMED reports that inspectors received ongoing training on child labor issues in 2014; the ILO has reported that this training, as well as the number of inspections conducted, is adequate. (1) In 2014, labor inspectors also attended special workshops on forced labor and human trafficking, with a special focus on child trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The Labor Inspectorate Unit also provided training with a special focus on child labor to 71 labor advocates from rural communities.(1) Ministerial funding and resources are also believed to be sufficient for the scope of the child labor problem. (1)

Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2014, the Counter-Trafficking Unit (CTU) employed seven police officers and three immigration officers. During October 2013 to September 2014, the Government allocated an annual budget of $950,000 for the operation of the CTU; the IOM reported that this budget was sufficient. The IOM also reported that the number of investigators was adequate; however, there is a cited lack of sufficient training and resources for CTU staff. (1) In 2014, the National Library and Information System of Trinidad and Tobago conducted a 1-day training on sex-trafficking prevention for representatives from libraries in the country. There are reports that the CTU needs improved resources for child victims. (1,9)

While the CTU did not report any criminal child labor violations during the reporting period, the number of investigations related to the worst forms of child labor is unknown. There was one suspected case of child trafficking during the reporting period; however, the investigation was terminated for lack of evidence. (1)

The Government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor, including its worst forms (Table 6).

The Child Protection Task Force ended on July 31, 2014, in accordance with its amended Terms of Reference; it had met 16 times before ending. No information is available on whether this task force or a new task force will reconvene in the future. (8)

Reports indicate that coordination among the agencies that are responsible for combatting child labor is ad hoc and needs improvement. The National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons met once in 2014. (1)

The Children's Authority (Amendment) Act of 2008 contains provisions to empower the Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. This body was conceived through legislative efforts in 2000 and was designed to enforce the laws on children's welfare, promote the rights of children, and provide services for child protection.(24-26) However, the Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has yet to become fully operational. (1)

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has established policies related to child labor, including its worst forms (Table 7).

† Policy was approved during the reporting period.

The Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Child Development is currently drafting a National Child Protection Policy, which will include child labor and trafficking. This policy will address obtaining data and implementing policies related to child labor in Trinidad and Tobago. (1) However, the Government has yet to produce an action plan to implement policies that call for the prevention and elimination of child labor. (18)

In September 2014, Trinidad and Tobago participated in the First Meeting of the Working Groups of the XVIII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor to foster continued dialogue and cooperation on labor issues throughout the Americas. Held in Bridgetown, Barbados, these discussions promoted the exchange of information on policies and programs that seek to formalize the informal sector, uphold workers' rights, and prevent and eliminate child labor. (31)

In 2014, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago funded programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor, including its worst forms. The Government has other programs that may have an impact on child labor, including its worst forms (Table 8).

* The impact of this program on child labor does not appear to have been studied.
† Program was launched during the reporting period.
‡ Program is funded by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Research found no evidence of programs to specifically address child labor in agriculture or the worst forms of child labor in commercial sexual exploitation.

Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor, including its worst forms, in Trinidad and Tobago (Table 9).

1. U.S. Embassy- Port of Spain. reporting, January 22, 2015.

2. U. S. Department of State. "Trinidad and Tobago," in Trafficking in Persons Report- 2014. Washington, DC; June 19, 2014;.

3. International Organization for Migration and the Secretariat of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. Invisible immigrants: A profile of irregular migration, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons in Trinidad and Tobago. Geneva; 2013. http://www.acpmigration-obs.org/sites/default/files/TnT%20Irregular%20migration%20report.pdf.

4. UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary. Total. [accessed January 16, 2015]. Data provided is the gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary school. This measure is a proxy measure for primary completion. For more information, please see the "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" section of this report.

5. UCW. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 3, 2006. Analysis received January 16, 2015. Reliable statistical data on the worst forms of child labor are especially difficult to collect given the often hidden or illegal nature of the worst forms. As a result, statistics on children's work in general are reported in this chart, which may or may not include the worst forms of child labor. For more information on sources used, the definition of working children and other indicators used in this report, please see the "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" section of this report.

6. U.S. Department of State. "Trinidad and Tobago," in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2013. Washington, DC; February 27, 2014;.

7. International Trade Union Confederation. Report for the WTO General Council Review of the Trade Policies of Trinidad and Tobago Geneva; March 7-9, 2012.

8. U.S. Embassy- Port of Spain. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 18, 2015.

9. U.S. Embassy- Port of Spain. reporting, February 18, 2015.

10. ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Direct Request concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Trinidad and Tobago (ratification: 2003) Submitted: 2011 accessed February 1, 2012;.

11. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Miscellaneous Provisions (Minimum Age for Admission to Employment), Act No. 3 of 2007, enacted February 26, 2007.

12. Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Trafficking in Persons Act, Act No. 14 of 2011, First Session, Tenth Parliament, enacted June 9, 2011.

13. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Sexual Offences Act, Act 27 of 1986, enacted 1986.

14. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Children Act, Act 4 of 1925, enacted 1925.

15. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Children Act, Act 12 of 2012, enacted August 6, 2012 (assented).

16. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,. Defence Act, Act 7 of 1962, enacted 1962.

17. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Education Act, enacted 1966.

18. ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Direct Request concerning Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Trinidad and Tobago (ratification: 2004) Published: 2013; accessed December 9, 2013;.

19. Child Soldiers International. "Appendix II: Data Summary on Recruitment Ages of National Armies," in Louder Than Words. London; 2012;.

20. U.S. Embassy- Port of Spain. reporting, January 28, 2014.

21. Ministry of the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago. Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of the Attorney General, [online] [cited March 17, 2014]; .

22. ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Request concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Trinidad and Tobago (ratification: 2003) Published: 2013; accessed.

23. UN Human Rights Council. Compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1: Trinidad and Tobago. Geneva; October 14, 2011.

24. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Act No. 14 of 2008: An Act to Amend the Children's Authority Act, 2000, First Session, Ninth Parliament, enacted September 26, 2008.

25. Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago: Information Brief. Port of Spain; January 2012. http://ttchildren.org/downloads/Children's%20Authority%20Information%20Brief%20Final.pdf.

26. Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Children's Authority Act, Act No. 64 of 2000, enacted November 2, 2000 (assented).

27. Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad Government and UNICEF to Sign Joint Strategy for Children, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, [online] [cited February 11, 2014];.

28. UN News Centre. "At UN-backed forum, Latin American, Caribbean nations pledge robust efforts against child labour." [online] October 15, 2014 [cited November 10, 2014]; .

29. ""Declaración de Constitución de la Iniciativa Regional América Latina y el Caribe Libre de Trabajo Infántil, signed at the ILO's 18th Regional Meeting of the Americas, October 14, 2014"." [online] October 14, 2014 2014 [cited November 17, 2014]; ""Declaración de Constitución de la Iniciativa Regional América Latina y el Caribe Libre de Trabajo Infántil, signed at the ILO's 18th Regional Meeting of the Americas, October 14, 2014"." wordpress.com [online] October 14, 2014 2014 [cited November 17, 2014]; .

30. ILO. "18th American Regional Meeting - Latin America and Caribbean Sign a Declaration to Free the Region from Child Labour." [online] October 17, 2014 [cited .

31. OAS. Agenda, First Meeting of the Working Group of the XVIII IACML; 2014.

32. Government of Trinidad and Tobago. National Youth Services Directory [online] October 23, 2014 [cited February 2 2015];.