2020 findings on the worst forms of child labor : Maldives
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Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
U.S. Mission to Maldives
Abstract
Description
In 2020, Maldives made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst
forms of child labor. In February 2020, the government enacted a new Child Rights
Protection Act that criminalizes child labor below the age of 16 and child exploitation,
including the use of children to sell drugs. The government also enacted a new
Education Act in November 2020 that provides for free public education. During
the reporting period, the government reported 335 incidents of commercial sexual
exploitation involving children, of which 120 cases resulted in prosecution, and 65
incidents of children being used in illicit activities, including drug trafficking, of which
20 cases were prosecuted. The government also increased the labor inspectorate
budget from $572,984 to $929,457. However, although research is limited, there
is evidence that children in Maldives are subjected to the worst forms of child labor,
including forced labor in domestic work and commercial sexual exploitation, each
sometimes as a result of human trafficking. The government has not identified specific
hazardous occupations or activities that are prohibited for children, and the law does
not sufficiently prohibit the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Moreover, the
government does not have a policy or program to address all relevant worst forms of
child labor in the country.
Keywords
Citation
U.S. Mission to Maldives. (2020). 2020 findings on the worst forms of child labor : Maldives. U.S. Mission to Maldives. 1-7.