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680 rating economy also is forcing more children to work. Although child labor in the agricultural, domestic, and informal sectors increasingly is discussed, the Government and NGO’s have been unable to gather concrete data on the number of cases. In November 1999, Parliament ratified ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor, and during the year, it was incorporated into the Child Adoption and Protection Bill, which had not been implemented by year’s end. In September, the Government released the results of an ILO-funded study on child labor in the country. The worst forms of child labor, such as child sweatshops and child prostitution, are not widely practiced in the country. The police frequently enforce laws against child prostitution. The law prohibits forced and bonded labor by children; however, the traditional practice of offering a young girl as compensatory payment in interfamily disputes continued (see Sections 5 and 6.c.), and there were reports that children were trafficked from the country to South Africa for forced prostitution and forced labor (see Section 6.f.). e. Acceptable Conditions of Work.—The maximum legal workweek is 54 hours, and the law prescribes a minimum of one 24-hour rest period per week. Working conditions are regulated by the Government on an industry-specific basis. The Constitution empowers the PSC to set conditions of employment in the public sector. The Government eliminated a national minimum wage as part of the Economic Structural Adjustment Program of 1990, with the exception of agricultural and domestic workers. Government regulations for each of the 22 industrial sectors continue to specify minimum wages, hours, holidays, and required safety measures. In recent years, in an effort to opt out of the wage bargaining system, the Government mandated wage parameters for industries. Due to an ineffective monitoring system, many agricultural and domestic workers are remunerated below the minimum wage. The minimum wage for agricultural workers is $24 (Zim $1650) per month, and for domestic workers is $41 (Zim $2900). Minimum wages in the formal sector changed continuously as a result of multiple increases in salaries to offset the inflation rate. In almost all cases, however, wage increases did not keep pace with inflation, devaluations, and the increases in the prices of petroleum products and basic food staples. A major goal of the ZCTU during the year was to encourage Government to again establish a national minimum wage but it did not reach an agreement with the Government by year’s end. The minimum wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and his family, and at least 70 percent of the population reportedly lives below the poverty line. In April civil servants were granted 60 to 90 percent pay raises, with the lowest paid positions receiving the largest percentage raises. While broadly viewed as an effort by the Government to buy the votes of the civil servants in the elections, these raises were also viewed as necessary by the ZCTU because of the traditionally low level of civil servant salaries. In October the Ministry of Public Service, Labor, and Social Welfare (MPSLSW) announced a new regulation prohibiting civil servants from engaging in any for-profit enterprises. The Government alleged that many workers were operating their own for-profit enterprises instead of attending to official duties during the workday as the reason for the regulation; however, many civil servants contested that they needed to do so to earn a livable wage. According to the ZCTU, some employers take advantage of illegal refugees for inexpensive labor. Because the job market is worse in neighboring countries such as Malawi and Mozambique, the refugees are willing to risk arrest and work for wages below the legal minimums (see Section 2.d.). Many of the basic legal protections do not apply to the vast majority of farm, mine, and domestic workers. Health and safety standards are determined only on an industry-specific basis. Despite the lack of general standards, the National Social Security Authority’s (NSSA) statistics from 1999 show a decrease in the number of occupational injuries and deaths. There were 139 fatal job accidents reported during 1999, a decrease from 1998, and 12,000 occupational injuries were reported in 1999. In theory, labor relations officers from the MPSLSW are assigned to monitor developments in each plant to ensure that government minimum wage policy and occupational health and safety regulations are observed. In practice these offices are understaffed, cannot afford to inspect routinely workplaces, and must rely on voluntary compliance and reporting by employers. The Government designated the Zimbabwe Occupational Safety Council (ZOSHC) to regulate safe work conditions. The ZOSHC is a quasi-governmental, advisory body comprised of six representatives each from the Government, employers, and trade unions. The National Director of the ZOSHC is responsible for enforcing worker safety regulations. The director reports weekly to the MPSLSW on actions taken. Budgetary restraints and staffing shortages, as well as its status as an advisory VerDate 11-MAY-2000 16:11 Sep 19, 2001 Jkt 073776 PO 00000 Frm 00387 Fmt 6621 Sfmt 6621 F:\WORK\COUNTRYR\S71555\71555.005 HINTREL1 PsN: HINTREL1
681 council, have made the council ineffective. The NSSA continues to experience difficulty monitoring the thousands of work sites across the country; however, it has begun to enforce safety standards more vigorously, by closing down shops and factories in non-compliance. Although workers have a legal right to remove themselves from dangerous work situations without jeopardy to continued employment, in practice they risk the loss of their livelihood if they do so, and this situation worsened during the year. f. Trafficking in Persons.—Although there are no laws that specifically address trafficking in persons, common law prohibits abduction and forced labor; however, there were reports that persons were trafficked from the country to South Africa for forced prostitution and forced labor. The Government has taken no actions to address the problem of trafficking in persons. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 16:11 Sep 19, 2001 Jkt 073776 PO 00000 Frm 00388 Fmt 6621 Sfmt 6621 F:\WORK\COUNTRYR\S71555\71555.005 HINTREL1 PsN: HINTREL1
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AFRICA ANGOLA The Popular Movement
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3 There were reports that Governmen
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5 local employee of a Portuguese co
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7 e. Denial of Fair Public Trial.
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9 private media attention to corrup
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11 Members of the clergy in governm
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13 ing the year. In October a local
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15 requires that labor unions be re
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17 an ethnic imbalance within the f
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19 the National Assembly elected si
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21 Despite severe economic pressure
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23 Committee, has made progress in
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25 press, principally located in Ni
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27 The Commissioner of Prisons orde
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29 Radio remained the most importan
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31 More than 2,500 refugees from th
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33 Young women do not have access t
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35 Unions may join international or
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37 Norbert Zongo, his brother, and
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39 tention for investigative purpos
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41 On April 8, security forces disp
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43 bly, and the judiciary. The legi
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45 ding FGM. Another form of mutila
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47 The security forces are controll
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49 bers. The new Attorney General,
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51 There were numerous instances of
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53 No laws or regulations limit aca
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55 tional Assembly adopted the Tran
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57 main marginalized economically,
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59 CAMEROON Cameroon is a republic
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61 On June 21, security officers sh
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63 portedly are chained or flogged
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65 looting and alleged beatings and
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67 to retrieve them. When they did
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69 Police and gendarmes often arres
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71 homes, arrest persons arbitraril
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73 (SNTR), denouncing the poor mana
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75 Forces (UFDC), an opposition par
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77 money from those who do not have
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79 rights monitors from operating.
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81 dren are detained in the Douala
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83 tions of the Labor Code have nev
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85 no specific legislation permitti
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87 f. Arbitrary Interference with P
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89 ing the year, and the media cont
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91 the Ministry of Justice and Labo
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93 discuss the report during its Oc
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95 Section 2. Respect for Civil Lib
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97 c. Freedom of Religion.—The Co
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99 sale of oil in the country by a
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101 A 1996 ordinance banned female
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103 dren; however, the Government d
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105 There was no action taken in se
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107 tortured, and raped detainees,
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109 also received a license in 1999
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111 Niger, Libya, Sudan, Nigeria, a
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113 cation campaigns against this p
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115 imum wage, but the lowest publi
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117 freed all of those arrested; th
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119 security forces used tear gas t
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121 Section 4. Governmental Attitud
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123 group of a prominent opposition
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125 that armed bands of Rwandan Hut
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127 On two occasions during the yea
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129 ance of many persons. Throughou
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131 On October 11, security agents
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133 No water or food is given to th
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135 morning (see Section 1.c.). Pol
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137 Penitentiaires du Congo (ACPC);
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139 In May a military court sentenc
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141 RCD/Goma was dominated by membe
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143 cle reportedly stated that the
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145 and two colleagues, Richard Tsh
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147 existing organizations were exe
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149 paratory meeting of the Inter-C
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151 The State continued to be highl
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153 school (see Section 6.d.). In b
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155 Section 1.a.). Reportedly Ugand
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157 Congo (DRC) nationality, and so
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159 There continued to be deaths du
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161 reports that security forces ar
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163 questions about their portfolio
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165 Vili. Other major ethnic groups
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167 December 1999 coup. Also in Jan
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169 By year’s end, the Government
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171 fused to stop at a police check
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173 Yopougon, northwest of Abidjan.
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175 Journalists frequently were arr
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177 On September 26, security force
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179 or could divide the country. Mi
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181 support their claims of academi
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183 the Government legalized opposi
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185 he faced outstanding charges of
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187 sure the authorities to enact a
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189 During the October demonstratio
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191 cluding being underpaid, workin
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193 though 14 of them were under th
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195 rights abuses and judicial abus
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197 is restricted to civil and fami
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199 teachings, or practice other fa
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201 legislature. In May 1999, the P
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203 the Government’s actions. On
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205 rights. Violence and discrimina
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207 as a hostage for her daughter w
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209 cussions from the authorities;
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211 the Catholic nongovernmental or
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213 party leader, police beat and d
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215 non-Equatoguineans only, in the
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217 RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Sectio
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219 In June approximately 200 membe
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221 ity to ban the import of any fo
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223 were shirking their civic duty.
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225 placement camps inside Eritrea.
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227 People with Disabilities.—The
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229 ized authority, poverty, civil
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231 In November 1999, student prote
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233 Government authorities continue
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235 country other than Eritrea. App
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237 During the fighting in May and
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239 a station controlled by the rul
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241 not free of religious influence
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243 The Government made efforts to
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245 In March 1999, 160 domestic and
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247 versal; however, despite effort
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249 Religious Minorities.—Despite
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251 including construction workers
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253 The Government continued work o
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255 The judicial system includes th
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257 The Ministry of the Interior ma
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259 Women.—Violence against women
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261 The Government cooperated activ
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265 ‘‘being a Nigerian’’ de
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267 Jammeh made the threat during a
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269 1965 from involvement in politi
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271 In July there was a brief strik
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273 lence, and some ethnic groups c
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275 In January after reports were m
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277 structed to arrest 13 additiona
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279 rights to be charged within 48
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281 opposition political activists
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283 party. During the December pres
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285 Open Heaven Mission Internation
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287 Women.—Violence against women
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289 ficials around the country to f
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291 There was a development in the
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293 tor, especially in larger citie
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295 the PUP continues to dominate a
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297 armed rebels attacked the villa
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299 them (see Section 1.c.). Two ev
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301 strictions on these rights. The
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303 d. Freedom of Movement Within t
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305 votes cast, the Constitution wo
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307 private nature. The Coordinatin
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309 d. Status of Child Labor Practi
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311 An estimated 2,000 persons were
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313 lum. In October 1999, the Attor
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315 After the May 1999 coup, the UN
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317 of genuine collective bargainin
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319 tody by year’s end. The nongo
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321 On November 30 and December 1,
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323 When progovernment supporters b
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325 observers allege that prison of
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327 before initiating private prose
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329 personal life of the Central Ba
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331 stituencies. Lower ranking offi
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333 erally were allowed to worship
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335 In November the Government depo
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337 Sections 1.c. and 2.b.). On Dec
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339 lems do not come before the cou
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341 On November 30 and December 1,
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343 There were 37 unions representi
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345 The minimum wage is insufficien
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347 50 LDF soldiers and 40 civilian
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349 The Constitution provides for f
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351 problem of school nonattendance
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353 sure a decent standard of livin
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355 There were credible reports tha
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357 Women, who constituted about 5
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359 In August the Government arrest
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361 c. Freedom of Religion.—The C
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365 or services. Disabled persons f
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367 The Labor Law provides for a 48
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369 Although the law allows detaine
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371 two-thirds of the Senate’s me
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373 c. Prohibition of Forced or Com
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375 while in, or shortly after rele
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377 sented in the country’s two d
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379 human rights cases. Government
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381 Religious Minorities.—There a
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383 updates of electoral lists; how
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385 sentenced to death in 1993, but
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387 ments and the revised electoral
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389 venting FGM. Throughout the yea
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391 The Labor Code prohibits forced
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395 as final arbiters for labor dis
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397 In April authorities forcibly d
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399 There were no reports of refuge
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401 organizations; it represents th
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403 National/Racial/Ethnic Minoriti
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405 A system of officially sanction
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407 is responsible for enforcement
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409 ysis. Authorities still were in
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411 sioner on Refugees refused to g
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413 the 1996 killing of three rival
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415 abuses, including those of chil
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417 a month later in Marracuene, Ma
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419 the death of one of the detaine
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421 thorizes a long period of inves
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423 papers—Noticias and Domingo
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425 months, the authorities rarely
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427 electoral law’s requirement t
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429 tionwide, of which only 23 offe
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431 rights to organize and engage i
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433 rity, to cover retirement, unem
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435 police forces implemented human
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437 to incarceration for juvenile o
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439 There were five private radio s
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441 Assembly. In 1996 female legisl
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443 The Government has taken a numb
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445 d. Status of Child Labor Practi
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447 In August 1999, prison guards u
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449 tem. Women do not have equal le
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451 in the east, some women are clo
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453 15 and 49 years of age had unde
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455 menting the convention; however
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459 During the year, there was an u
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461 ing trial and that at least 2 p
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463 defendants employ numerous dela
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465 Because newspapers and televisi
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467 reports that Christianity is ta
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469 ernment also resettled in the c
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471 dating to 1966 and the time of
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473 The Women’s Centre for Peace
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475 and government indifference to
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477 ernment retains broad authority
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479 which it is culturally accepted
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481 tured one, shot him, and left h
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483 fairs Pauline Nyiramasuhuko and
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485 leader for internal reasons (se
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487 cluding the ARJ, in order for t
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489 Section 3. Respect for Politica
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491 needs of households headed by c
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493 are insufficient to provide a d
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495 transfer of power between polit
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497 Casamance area in the southern
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499 president Hissen Habre, arguing
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501 A broad spectrum of thought and
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503 little chance of winning Senate
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505 In January 1999 the Government
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507 incorporated into the Labor Cod
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509 Government, such as the Attorne
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513 to apprenticeship or short-term
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515 Government security forces on a
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517 May and June, a gunship killed
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519 The kidnaping and forced conscr
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521 D’Ivoire, Ghana, and other Af
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523 Some of the many individuals wh
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525 ety were selected for a ‘‘C
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527 picion that he might have kille
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529 Program office in Hargeisa. Som
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531 majority of cases using traditi
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533 c. Freedom of Religion.—There
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535 treatment of prisoners before t
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537 opportunities and severely depr
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539 The South Africa Institute for
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541 c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inh
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543 younger. Juveniles normally are
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545 to offer settlements without fi
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547 communication-service licenses.
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549 for their subjects and have con
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551 Female immigrants and asylum se
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553 sure that all government-funded
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555 January and an illegal strike o
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557 ployee who asserts a right gran
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559 manitarian assessments in the N
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561 There also were reports of peri
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563 incommunicado the members of PN
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565 Security personnel routinely op
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567 attacked government garrisons,
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569 In December government forces b
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571 The Government officially exemp
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573 effect throughout the year and
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575 and placed in school. There are
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577 b. The Right to Organize and Ba
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579 SWAZILAND Swaziland is governed
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581 who have made attempts to influ
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583 c. Freedom of Religion.—There
Page 585 and 586:
Page 587 and 588:
587 The 2000 IRA, like the 1996 IRA
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589 by irregularities, voter intimi
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591 Credible evidence indicates tha
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593 year. It also invited the ICRC
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595 judges who make unpopular rulin
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597 On January 19, police confiscat
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599 the Court has delayed hearing a
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601 There is some resentment and ho
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603 to monitor violations of human
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605 the dangers of FGM and other tr
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607 tion if they do not conform wit
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609 charge of the national police,
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611 university student Gerard Amedj
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613 papers. Advertisers reportedly
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615 sequently in Lome. They were re
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617 party elections. For example, i
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619 harsh economic conditions in ru
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621 The Labor Code prohibits antiun
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623 The economy grew at a rate of a
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625 da Human Rights Commission (UHR
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627 a police officer accused of rap
Page 629 and 630: 629 immediately of the reasons for
Page 631 and 632: 631 prosecutor and the adjudicating
Page 633 and 634: 633 The Press and Media Law, which
Page 635 and 636: 635 Some local governments have res
Page 637 and 638: 637 tor General of Police, the Mini
Page 639 and 640: 639 Female genital mutilation (FGM)
Page 641 and 642: 641 perform manual labor, often 12
Page 643 and 644: 643 the state-owned media, put the
Page 645 and 646: 645 cluded on September 17, 1999. T
Page 647 and 648: 647 whereabouts for several days af
Page 649 and 650: 649 In September espionage charges
Page 651 and 652: 651 The Government provided first a
Page 653 and 654: 653 of wife beating, preferring ins
Page 655 and 656: 655 priate redress for the aggrieve
Page 657 and 658: 657 ernment’s monopoly on broadca
Page 659 and 660: 659 During the year at least five f
Page 661 and 662: 661 MDC. At least one person, Chipu
Page 663 and 664: 663 On July 2, 1999, the Zimbabwe H
Page 665 and 666: 665 residents, severely in some cas
Page 667 and 668: 667 quarters. The war veterans clai
Page 669 and 670: 669 lice used tear gas and baton st
Page 671 and 672: 671 stations. Commissioners also la
Page 673 and 674: 673 as ‘‘associations’’ con
Page 675 and 676: 675 The number of street children,
Page 677 and 678: 677 Section 6. Worker Rights a. The
Page 679: 679 Public sector wages are determi
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