This practice has been repeatedly criticized by ILO committees, to which the Government responded that it would present legislation reforming this and other provisions of the labor code. That legislation was drafted, but had not been presented to Congress by October 1993. The responsibility for enforcing child labor provisions resides in the Labor Ministry. Children are not usually employed in factories or businesses. Where employed, such as assisting transport operators, minors usually work the same hours as adults.
Bolivia has compulsory education through the elementary level.
In practice, most urban children complete elementary education, while very few rural children do. Less than 30 percent of Bolivian children advance beyond elementary school. A worker earning only the minimum wage would not be able to sustain a decent standard of living for himself, let alone support a family. Workers in most occupations earn more than the minimum wage. Although the minimum wage is well below the prevailing wage in most occupations, it is significant because certain fringe benefits are pegged to it.