Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2022)

122.   Prohibition of child labour

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    (1)   Notwithstanding section 18 (2) and subject to subsection (2), a person shall not employ or allow to be employed any child who is under the minimum school leaving age as declared by any law in force in Saint Lucia except for employment during school holidays in light work.

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    (2)   A person may not employ or allow to be employed a child or young person in employment that is inappropriate for a person of that age, being work which places at risk the child or young person's wellbeing, education, safety, physical or mental health, or spiritual, moral or social development.

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    (3)   The provisions of subsection (1) do not apply to—

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      (a)     work done by children or young persons in technical schools as part of their technical program where such work is approved and supervised by the relevant public authority;

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      (b)     work done under order of detention in a reformatory or industrial school where such work is approved and supervised by the relevant public authority; or

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      (c)     work done by children or young persons on job training or work experience activities where such work is approved and supervised by the relevant public authority; (Amended by Act 6 of 2011)

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      (d)     non-hazardous work done as a community service or for a charity outside of normal school hours where such work does not prejudice the child's or young person's capacity to benefit from the instruction received; (Amended by Act 6 of 2011)

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      (e)     work done by members of a recognized youth organization which is engaged collectively in such employment for the purposes of fund raising for such organization or charity outside of normal school hours where such work does not prejudice the child's capacity to benefit from the instruction received;

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      (f)     work done by persons over the age of 13 years which is characterized as light work which is not harmful, prejudicial or dangerous to the child or young person and does not place at risk the child's well-being, education, physical or mental health, or spiritual, moral or social development and such light work may include but is not limited to—

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        (i)     newspaper rounds,

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        (ii)     car-washing,

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        (iii)     cake sales and other sales at school and charity fairs,

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           if such light work is approved by the Labour Commissioner by Order published in the Gazette after consultation with organizations of employers and employees concerned;

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      (g)     work done by children or young person's participating in artistic performances based on a permit granted by the Minister in his or her discretion on a case by case basis limiting hours to be worked and indicating conditions of work.