Geneva — Saint Lucia has officially deposited the instruments of ratification for the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) with the International Labour Organization (ILO). Through this decision, the country reaffirms its commitment to protecting children and promoting safe and healthy working conditions.

“With these ratifications, Saint Lucia reaffirms its commitment to fostering a national culture of prevention in all workplaces, and to ensuring that all children are protected from child labour,” stated Minister of Labour Virginia Albert-Poyotte during the deposit ceremony with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo.

Saint Lucia is a member of the Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour, a collective effort of 31 countries working together to achieve Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this alliance, and with technical support from the ILO, the country has received assistance throughout the ratification process.

With this action, Latin America and the Caribbean achieves a regional milestone: all countries have now ratified the ILO's fundamental conventions on child labour, strengthening the legal framework for the protection of children and adolescents across the region.

The Regional Initiative welcomes this achievement and reaffirms its commitment to advancing coordinated efforts to accelerate the elimination of child labour and to ensure decent and safe working environments throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.