Minister of Justice of Cuba María Reus González and ILO Director General Guy Ryder

On 28 September 2015, the Government of Cuba deposited with the International Labour Office the instrument of ratification of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). Cuba is the 180^th ILO member State to ratify this instrument, which calls for the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, trafficking, the use of children in armed conflict, the use of a child for prostitution, pornography and illicit activities (such as drug trafficking) as well as in hazardous work.

In receiving the instrument of ratification of Convention No. 182 by the hands of the Minister of Justice of Cuba Dra. María Reus González, the Director-General of the ILO, Mr Guy Ryder, stated “I am particularly pleased to welcome Cuba among the States party to Convention No. 182, who commit to eliminating the worst forms of child labour. This represents another positive development in the country’s continued path towards the full respect of fundamental rights at work. Today, Cuba joins the global fight against the scourge of child labour in all its forms, and commits to protecting children from work that has a debilitating effect on their health, morals or psychological wellbeing. Cuba’s ratification confirms the status of Convention No. 182 as the most ratified ILO Convention, bringing us one step closer to the goal of its universal ratification."