Action Against Child Labour (ILO, 2000, 356 p.): 6. Strategies for employers and their organizations: 6.4 KEY LESSONS FOR FUTURE ACTION

Action Against Child Labour (ILO, 2000, 356 p.)

(introduction...)

Preface

1. National policies and programmes

(introduction...)

INTRODUCTION

1.1 STRATEGIC ACTION AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

(introduction...)

The problem

Prevention, removal and rehabilitation

Priority target groups

Phased and multi-sectoral strategy

1.2 DEVELOPING POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES ON CHILD LABOUR

Why a policy on child labour?

Policies, programmes and projects

ILO standards and action through IPEC

The first steps in policy and programme formulation

1.3 SETTING PRIORITIES FOR ACTION

Especially vulnerable groups

Main policy and programme directions

Direct action and capacity building

1.4 CREATING A BROAD SOCIAL ALLIANCE

Appendix 1.1 Terms of reference for a comprehensive report on child labour

Appendix 1.2 Ideas for group work in national planning workshops on child labour

Appendix 1.3 Example of a national plan of action on child labour, Cambodia, 1997

Appendix 1.4 Pointers to project design

2. Towards improved legislation

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INTRODUCTION

2.1 LEGISLATION AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

2.2 SOURCES OF LAW ON CHILD LABOUR

2.3 INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS AND NATIONAL LEGISLATION

Introduction

National policy

Coverage of the law (scope of application)

General minimum age for admission to employment or work

Minimum age for light work

Minimum age for hazardous work

Conditions of employment

Forced labour

Enforcement

2.4 NEW INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS ON THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOUR

2.5 OTHER INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

2.6 INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE CHILD LABOUR LEGISLATION

2.7 LESSONS LEARNED

Checklist 2.1 General principles

Checklist 2.2 Improving national legislation

Checklist 2.3 Legislation on bonded labour

Checklist 2.4 Involving employers' and workers' organizations, and others

Appendix 2.1 ILO Conventions on child labour and forced labour (as at 31 July 1999)

Appendix 2.2 Minimum ages in ILO Conventions

Appendix 2.3 Ratification of ILO Conventions on child labour and forced labour (as at 31 August 1999)

Appendix 2.4 Chart of ratifications of ILO Conventions on child labour and forced labour by country (as at 31 August 1999:

Appendix 2.5 Excerpts from selected ILO standards on child labour

3. Improving the knowledge base on child labour

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INTRODUCTION

3.1 CHILD LABOUR STATISTICS: METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Data requirements

Survey methodologies

3.2 BASIC RESULTS

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Household survey

Establishment survey

Survey of street children

The time-use approach

3.3 RECOMMENDATIONS ON CONDUCTING SURVEYS

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Household-based surveys

Surveys of employers (establishments or enterprises)

Surveys of street children

3.4 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTERVIEWING CHILDREN

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Creating the right setting

3.5 FURTHER RESEARCH

Appendix 3.1 List of detailed variables in child labour surveys

Bibliography on child labour surveys, statistics and related matters

4. Alternatives to child labour

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INTRODUCTION

4.1 STRATEGIES IN EDUCATION

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Educating children about their rights and about child labour issues

Investment in early childhood development programmes

Increasing access to education

Improving the quality of formal and non-formal education

Non-formal education as an entry, a re-entry or alternative for (former) working children

Approaches to vocational education

4.2 PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN FROM ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE GROUPS

(introduction...)

Child victims of bondage, commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking

Girls

Children living and working on the streets

Children of indigenous groups and other minorities

4.3 EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AND INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS

4.4 WORKPLACE AND COMMUNITY MONITORING

4.5 LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE: PLANNING ACTION PROGRAMMES

Identifying priority target groups

Concerted action

Setting programme objectives

Checklist 4.1 Identifying target groups and selecting children

Checklist 4.2 Planning vocational skills training programmes

Checklist 4.3 Measuring the impact of action programmes

5. Strategies to address child slavery

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5.1 THE PROBLEM OF CHILD SLAVERY

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The nature of the problem

The extent of the problem

5.2 INTERNATIONAL ACTION AGAINST CHILD SLAVERY

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International Labour Organization

United Nations

5.3 NATIONAL LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT

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Legislation prohibiting forced and bonded labour

Problems in enforcement

5.4 ACTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

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Preventing child slavery

Action against slave owners

Targeting children in bondage

Integrated action to address child slavery

5.5 DEVELOPING COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMES OF ACTION

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Strategy for action against child bondage

Strategy for action against child trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children

Bibliography on child slavery

6. Strategies for employers and their organizations

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INTRODUCTION

6.1 STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYER ACTION

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Planning for action at the national level

Building alliances

Key issues in project design

Ten steps to enhance employer action on child labour

6.2 EMPLOYER ''BEST PRACTICES'' ON CHILD LABOUR

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Awareness-raising and policy development initiatives

Employer action to combat child labour in specific sectors

Direct support for the removal and rehabilitation of child workers

6.3 CORPORATE INITIATIVES ON CHILD LABOUR

Labelling or certification schemes

Corporate codes of conduct

Industry codes of conduct

IOE views on voluntary codes of conduct and labelling

6.4 KEY LESSONS FOR FUTURE ACTION

Appendix 6.1 IOE General Council Resolution on Child Labour

7. Trade unions against child labour

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INTRODUCTION

7.1 WHY CHILD LABOUR IS A TRADE UNION ISSUE

The history and role of trade union involvement

7.2 HOW TRADE UNIONS ARE FIGHTING CHILD LABOUR

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Trade unions strengthen their capacity to address child labour issues

Trade unions support children, their families and communities

Trade unions raise awareness on child labour issues

Trade unions gather and disseminate data on child labour

Trade unions include child labour concerns in collective bargaining agreements

Trade unions advocate for codes of conduct

Trade unions work in partnership with NGOs, employers' organizations and governments

The international trade union movement plays a major role

7.3 WHAT A TRADE UNION CAN DO

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Ten-point action guide

Bibliography on trade union action

8. Awareness-raising

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INTRODUCTION

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Aspects of communication

Process of communication

8.1 THE MESSAGE

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''Action against child labour can be taken now''

''Prioritize the most harmful, often invisible, forms of child labour''

''Positive action and international cooperation are needed''

''Tradition cannot justify the exploitation of children''

''Prevention is better than cure''

8.2 THE AUDIENCE

8.3 MEANS OF COMMUNICATION

8.4 THE NEED FOR A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

Appendix 8.1 Informing the public

Appendix 8.2 Popular theatre as an effective communications tool

9. Action by community groups and NGOs

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9.1 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND CHILD LABOUR

9.2 PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF NGOs IN COMBATING CHILD LABOUR

Types of NGO action

Examples of NGOs in action

9.3 LESSONS LEARNED

10. Resources on child labour

INTRODUCTION

10.1 GENERAL PUBLICATIONS ON CHILD LABOUR

ILO reports for the International Labour Conference (ILC) and Governing Body (GB)

Reports of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC)

Policy studies

Information kits, training manuals and guidelines

Audiovisual materials

10.2 SPECIAL THEMES

Other ILO publications

Back Cover

6.4 KEY LESSONS FOR FUTURE ACTION

The examples in this report show that where employers' organizations are active players in local and national initiatives to combat child labour, they can be instrumental in raising society's awareness of the problem and can make valuable contributions to broad social alliances to provide long-term solutions. Over the long term, their actions can make a positive difference for the children toiling today in hazardous and exploitative working conditions in both the formal and the informal sectors. Several key lessons have been reported by employers taking action against child labour.³

³ Employers' handbook on child labour, op. cit.

The first key lesson is that it makes better financial and business sense for employers and their organizations to be involved in the issue of child labour proactively rather than reactively. While programmes which aim at the removal and rehabilitation of child labourers are often crucial - particularly in situations where children are working in hazardous and exploitative situations - they are at the same time extremely costly and complex, and tend to attack the symptoms of the problem rather than its roots. For this reason, employers and their organizations should not wait until they are pressured by outside groups to assess the child labour situation in their own industries. Instead, they should identify and enlist the support of other partners -governments, international and national organizations - with whom they can work together to identify how best to collaborate and to prevent child labour problems. In this respect, through their central employers' organizations, companies and sectoral organizations can directly approach IPEC for assistance in the area of policy development and action implementation.

A second key lesson concerns the importance of building effective alliances. No concerned member of civil society can hope to fulfil alone all the possible functions necessary to effectively curb and progressively eliminate child labour on a global scale. Because of their influential contacts in society, many employers' organizations have a comparative advantage in the areas of public advocacy and policy development. NGOs, which are generally issue specific, have a comparative advantage in designing social support programmes. For their part, most trade unions have a comparative advantage in raising social awareness of the issue. The examples of successful employer initiatives presented above were implemented through a broad coalition of actors working together. It is recommended therefore that companies and employers' organizations involve other like-minded partners in the design and implementation of any action to combat child labour.

The third key lesson is the importance of prioritizing action. There is now a much greater awareness of the scope and magnitude of child labour than ever before. The total eradication of this problem will demand significant resources and concentrated action over the foreseeable future. This, however, should not be used as an excuse for apathy. The role of employers and their organizations is crucial in identifying industries and/or sectors that pose the greatest risks to working children. Employers can begin by playing an active role in promoting the ratification of Convention No. 182 and the implementation of measures also suggested in Recommendation No. 190. These instruments will serve as the cornerstone of international efforts to eliminate child labour, beginning with its most intolerable forms. They place the immediate suppression of extreme forms of child labour as the main priority for national and international action for the abolition of child labour.