Minors Labor

The State protects the rights of children and adolescents, through the Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde, the Statute of Children and Adolescents-ECA, and also through the Cape Verdean Labor Code, which enshrines a specific chapter on the minor labor, safeguarding the moral protection of minors.

A minor can only be admitted to work if he has completed 15 years of age, has completed the minimum compulsory education (8th year) and has adequate physical and psychological capacity for the job.

But in no case, before turning 15 years old.

An exception is considered, the hiring of a minor for activities of representation, cinema, ballet, music and other activities of a spiritual nature, since that the minor’s occupation is duly accompanied by the parents or whoever legally represents him / her, and does not harm its health, school training, education or affect its physical, mental or moral development.

Security protection guarantees, health and education of the minor

The employer must provide the minor workers conditions appropriate to their age, that protect their safety, health, physical, psychological and moral development, education and training, competing it namely:

• Before performing any task, prove that they have the physical strength necessary to perform the professional activity for which they were hired.
• During the performance of the work, submit them regularly and periodically, at least once a year, proof of physical strength and health for the exercise of the function.

Maximum limits for the normal working hours of minors:

• The normal working period for minors cannot exceed 38 hours per week and 7 hours per day.
• The normal working period for minors can, however, be the same as for other workers when the tasks performed are simple, the work is markedly intermittent or for the sole purpose of training the minor.

Night work and for shift of minors

• Workers under 18 are prohibited from working at night and in shifts, between 8 pm on one day and 7 am on the following day, unless work under that regime is indispensable for your professional training and is authorized by the Directorate-General for Labor.

Overtime work

• In principle, minor workers cannot perform overtime.
• However, overtime work for minors between the ages of 16 and 18 is only allowed in cases of force majeure, but may not exceed two hours per day and thirty hours per year.

Daily rest

The minor’s uninterrupted rest may not be less than 12 hours a day.

The child and adolescence phase is a very important stage in a person’s development, but also very sensitive. In order for us to have great professionals in the future, it is important to preserve children and adolescents today.

Tomorrow starts today! (unknown author)