Overview of ILO-IPEC Action against Child Labour

1. Overview of ILO-IPEC Action against Child Labour Constance Thomas, lecturer Former Director of IPEC/FPRW 2018 International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 1

2. What is Child Labour? • It refers to work that: • Is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and • Interferes with their schooling: • By depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; • By obliging them to leave school prematurely: or • By requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

3. The Basic Breakdown 2016 estimates: 218m in economic activity, of whom: • 152m in child labour (88m boys/64m girls) • 73m in worst forms (hazardous) 62% boys • 5-11 yrs: 73m CL; 19m WFCL • 12 -14 yrs: 42m CL; 16m WFCL • 15-17 yrs: 37m CL; 37m WFCL • Trends: CL reduced 38%, WF reduced 58% since 2000

4. The Basic Breakdown International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

5. The Face of Child Labour • 69.1% is unpaid family work, 27.2% is paid employment, 3.7 is self-employment • 71% in agriculture; 17% in services; 12% in manufacturing • Estimated at least 7% in global supply chains (old info)

6. Regional breakdown Sub-Saharan Africa Latin Americaand Caribbean Asiaand the Pacific Same at 10.7 million (5.3%) Up to 72.1 million (19.6 %) Down to 62.1 million (7.4%) International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 8

7. Causes of Child Labour • Poverty • Parental attitudes and knowledge • Barriers to education • Market demand • Perceived suitability of children to certain types of work • Lack of legislation and/or poor enforcement of existing legislation • Regional/internal conflict • Situations of fragility and crises (i.e.disasters) International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

8. Consequences of Child Labour • Deprives them of schooling or requires them to assume the multiple burden of schooling and work • Jeopardises their health and safety – high risk of illness and injury…even death (especially children in armed conflict) • Affects their physical development (malnutrition, long working hours in bad conditions) • Exposes them to physical and psychological abuse and violence which all have long term consequences • Deprives them of their childhood and of their future International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

9. ILO Framework to combat child labour • Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) & Recommendation No. 146 • Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) & Recommendation No. 190. • Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998) • Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008) • Decent Work Agenda • Strategic Policy Framework and Programme and Budget • Global Action Plans against Child Labour (2006, 2010, FPRW 2012) International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 11

10. The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) • Launched in 1992 • Main objective: the progressive elimination of child labour • To be achieved through strengthening the capacity of countries to deal with the problem and promoting a worldwide movement to combat child labour • IPEC is a rights based development programme which employs internationally recognized labour standards, technical advice, and technical cooperation projects towards achievement of its objective • Tripartite cooperation with governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations is the cornerstone of national action against child labour and IPEC interventions. • Promotes worldwide movement with civil society actors International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

11. Adopted at The Hague Global Child Labour Conference 2010 and Brasilia Conference 2013 Roadmap to eliminate WFCL by 2016 Preamble: CL is impediment to achieving MDGs;Guiding principles: Governments have prime responsibility, adequate financial resources to available. Priority actions by governments:Legislation & law enforcement; free, com-pulsory quality education; social protection; labour market policies Priority actions by social partners and others Promotion and monitoring framework

12. Global Action Plan (2010) Supporting national responses, mainstreaming CL concerns within national development and policy frameworks Strengthening the importance of law, public services and social dialogue Promoting the role of responsible business Strengthening child labour monitoring systems (community-based, labour inspection and national statistical services – identification, withdrawal and prevention, referral, tracking) Deepening and strengthening the worldwide movement Emphasis on Africa Reflected in a “new generation” of IPEC projects Child-labour free areas: integrated area-based approach www.ilo.org International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 14

13. Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (2012) • New Resolution and Plan of Action emphasizing the inter-linkage between the four sets of fundamental rights: freedom of association and collective bargaining; abolition of forced labour; elimination of child labour; right to non discrimination

14. IPEC’s strategy: “top down” & “bottom up” Working with goverments, trade unions and employers to improve legislation, policies, support national plans of action on child labour and strengthen the capacities of key players at the policy, planning and intervention levels Creating awareness at all levels and mobilising alliances and partnerships Mainstreaming child labour issues into national and global development frameworks Demonstrating viable strategies for the prevention of child labour, withdrawal of childrenfromwork, the rehabilitation of former childlabourers and ensuringtheiraccess to education International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 16

15. IPEC Priorities: sectors, regions typologies • Agriculture, mining, child domestic labour, informal economy • Focus on Africa • Worst forms: Bonded and forced labour • The special situation of girls and older boys • Youth employment (Hazardous work) International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 17

16. Research and knowledge Global Reports 2010, 2013, including global estimates and trends; UCW interagency report with UNICEF & World Bank; National child labour surveys; New thematic tools and analytical studies; Breakthrough in research methods ie WFCL other than hazardous CL; Improved linkages with education, youth employment, social protection; law enforcement www.ilo.org International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 18

17. IPEC: Action through Policy • Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers • United Nations Development Agreement Framework • ILO’s Decent Work Country Programme • Nation Sectoral Policies i.e. Education, Industry • National Action Plans/Roadmaps International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

18. IPEC on the ground • Projects supporting direct interventions for at-risk children, child labourers, their families and communities, including: • Community mobilisation and awareness raising • Withdrawal and rehabilitation services • Provision of education (formal and non- formal) and vocational training • Economic empowerment of targeted families • Local child labour monitoring, involving the local community in identifying child labourers and linking them to appropriate services International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

19. Child labour and Education • Working with Ministries of Labour and Education on policies and programmes responding to child labour • Advocacy to encourage removal of barriers to education. • Non formal education initiatives to reach out of school children, and tools for developing children’s awareness concerning child labour • Integrating information on child labour within school curriculum and teacher training • Work with teacher’s trade unions, whose members can support advocacy and action against child labour • Vocational and skills training programmes which provide practical skills for children reaching the minimum age of employment

20. Partnerships and networking Understanding Children’s Work (partnership of ILO, UNICEF, World Bank); Global Task Force on Child Labour and Education for All (GTF); International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture; UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking International Working Group on Children on the Move; Paris Principles Steering Group on children associated with armed forces and armed groups; www.ilo.org International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 23

21. International partnership for cooperation on child labour in agriculture • Bridge the gap between technical areas “agriculture” and “labour • International agricultural organizations are important conduits because of their close contacts with national: • ministries or departments of agriculture • agricultural extension services • farmers' organizations and cooperatives • agricultural: producer organizations, research bodies, marketing boards International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

22. Engaging with Business • ILO Mulinational Enterprise Declaration • OECD Guidelines • UN Global Compact • UN Human Rights Framework (Ruggie principles) • Codes & Standards • Guidelines

23. Business risks • But significant risks persist • Child labour in supply chains • Informal economy, agriculture • Household production • Business & labour practices that perpetuate poverty

24. Why should business care • Because it is a visible violation • Because laws requires it • Because the State is unable/unwilling to protect rights • Because it helps manage reputation • Because it is part of social responsibility • Because it can create value and opportunity for the business • Because it can enhance productivity

25. THANK YOU International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour 31