Reactivation of the National Commission for the Gradual and Progressive Eradication of Child Labour in Honduras (CONETI)

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (ILO News) - During the session, Honduran constituents and representatives of non-governmental organizations emphasized the importance of political will and inter-institutional coordination as fundamental requirements to keep the CONETI active and ensure concrete actions in the fight against child labour .

Created in 1998, CONETI is a political body chaired by the Secretary of State in the Offices of Labour and Social Security, and is composed of government authorities, employers’ organization, workers' organizations, and civil society organizations. Its main objective is to eliminate child labour and guarantee the rights of children and adolescents in Honduras.

The reactivation of the tripartite plus social dialogue comes at a critical moment, coinciding with the publication of the 2024 National Child Labour Survey in Honduras (ENTIH) . According to this survey, more than one million children in Honduras are in hazardous work, with the highest prevalence rates in the departments of Gracias a Dios (45.9%), Intibucá (35.2%) and Lempira (34%). CONETI members recognized the urgent need to translate these statistics into concrete actions that ensure the protection of Honduran children.

The session on November 13 included the participation of Secretaries of State, the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP), the General Confederation of Workers, the Coordinator of Private Institutions for Children, Adolescents, Youth and their Rights (COIPRODEN), World Vision, and the CLEAR Supply Chains project. Among the agreements reached, the review and update of the list of hazardous work in Honduras, with technical assistance from the CLEAR Supply Chains project, was highlighted. Additionally, the National Institute of Statistics and the Secretariat of Labour and Social Security presented the second volume of the ENTIH, which expands the analysis of the impact of child labour on education.

To ensure the sustainability of the leadership and international commitments of the Government of Honduras, the CLEAR Supply Chains project provides technical assistance to the Directorate General of Social Security of the Secretariat of State in the Offices of Labour and Social Security. It is expected that in 2025, coordinated and effective actions will be implemented to ensure a full childhood for boys and girls in Honduras.

© ILO/CLEAR Supply Chains project

© ILO/CLEAR Supply Chains project