Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Benin (Ratification: 2001)

Article 3(1) and (2) of the Convention. Minimum age for admission to hazardous work and determination of such types of work. In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to provide information on the application in practice of Decree No. 2011-029 establishing the list of hazardous types of work prohibited for young persons under 18 years of age, in particular statistics on the number and nature of violations reported and penalties imposed for employing children under 18 years of age in hazardous types of work.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that Decree No. 2011-029 is currently under review.

The Committee also notes the information from the “Integrated data system for the family, women and children – New generation (SIDoFFE-NG)” of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance, according to which the Centre for Social Advancement, the labour inspectorate, reception structures, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partner structures identified a total of 335 boys and 402 girls exposed to the worst forms of child labour between January 2022 and April 2025. The Committee requests the Government to continue ensuring the effective application of Decree No. 2011-029 establishing the list of hazardous types of work prohibited for young persons under 18 years of age. It also requests the Government to provide information on any amendments made once the review of Decree No. 2011-029 has been completed.