ILO initiats steps to eradicate child labour

Bangalore, Oct 6 (UNI) Trade Unions based at the workplace can play a pivotal role in eradicating the menace of child labour, Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, Director International Labour Organisation (ILO), South Asia Region, said here today.

Speaking at a workshop on 'Trade Union Programme Fighting Child Labour,' jointly organised by the ILO and International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) and Karnataka Child Labour Project (KCP) here today Ms Reddy said that the ILO, through its tripartite constituency and various conventions, enabled the international community draw up an agenda against child labour.

Child labour was a complex socio-economic and legal problem that needed to be confronted with a coordinated and joint effort. Rapid rate of ratification of the Conventions by various countries spoke of the political will in different countries to put an end to the problem.

She said India had taken a pro-active initiative in bringing legislation, banning the practice of engaging children for domestic work. This recognised the fact that child labour was a crucial element and created roadblocks in building a welfare society.

She said for the first time trade union activists have gathered in Karnataka to affirm their solidarity in the fight against child labour and form an alliance in the state to leverage their collective strengths. She also expressed confidence that at the end of the workshop an action plan to eliminate the child labour would be formulated. This would help in drafting a national policy to put an end to child labour in the country.

Mr Sanjiv Kumar, Coordinator for the Karnataka Child Labour Project, the workshop was attended by office bearers of major trade unions including AITUC, INTUC, BMS, HMS and CITU and also unions from the unorganised sector. The purpose of the workshop was to chalk out the role and a strategy by the trade unions in fighting against child labour. Child labour would be a key area for trade union activities which can influence government through social dialogue and negotiations. Trade unions were like human rights organisations. As child labour was a human rights issue, trade unions had a direct responsibility for its effective eradication, he added.

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