Action Against Child Labour (ILO, 2000, 356 p.): 7. Trade unions against child labour: 7.1 WHY CHILD LABOUR IS A TRADE UNION ISSUE: The history and role of trade union involvement

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

(introduction...)

Household-based surveys

Surveys of employers (establishments or enterprises)

Surveys of street children

3.4 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTERVIEWING CHILDREN

(introduction...)

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

(introduction...)

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

(introduction...)

5.1 THE PROBLEM OF CHILD SLAVERY

(introduction...)

The nature of the problem

The extent of the problem

5.2 INTERNATIONAL ACTION AGAINST CHILD SLAVERY

(introduction...)

International Labour Organization

United Nations

5.3 NATIONAL LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT

(introduction...)

Legislation prohibiting forced and bonded labour

Problems in enforcement

5.4 ACTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

(introduction...)

Preventing child slavery

Action against slave owners

Targeting children in bondage

Integrated action to address child slavery

5.5 DEVELOPING COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMES OF ACTION

(introduction...)

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

(introduction...)

INTRODUCTION

6.1 STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYER ACTION

(introduction...)

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

(introduction...)

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

(introduction...)

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

(introduction...)

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

(introduction...)

Ten-point action guide

Bibliography on trade union action

8. Awareness-raising

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INTRODUCTION

(introduction...)

Aspects of communication

Process of communication

8.1 THE MESSAGE

(introduction...)

''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

(introduction...)

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

The history and role of trade union involvement

From the start, trade unions have worked for the prevention of child labour and the removal of children from the workplace, and for their placement in schools. The first International Workers' Congress in 1866 called for an international campaign against child labour and, with the establishment of the ILO) in 1919, the first Convention on minimum age for admission to industry was adopted. The fight against child labour has been part of the core mandate of the ILO since its inception and the labour movement has been identified as one of the key pressure groups for limiting child labour in the twentieth century.

The ILO's position is founded upon a range of international labour standards, the most important of which are the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 199 (No. 182). Convention No. 138 obliges ratifying States to undertake a national policy to ensure the abolition of child labour and to progressively raise the minimum age for admission to employment or work. It consolidates earlier instruments, and applies to all sectors of economic activity, whether or not the children are employed for wages. To complement the provisions of Convention No. 138 and to encourage the immediate suppression of the worst forms of child labour, the ILO member Stares adopted Convention No. 182 at the 1999 session of the International Labour Conference (see Chapter 2).

The development of protective legislation in the form of minimum age statutes, and the gradual introduction of compulsory education helped to reduce child labour in the now industrialized countries. Universal education was seen as a major factor in the development of a modern nation, and trade unions played an important part in lobbying for the transfer of children from the workplace to the classroom.

Box 7.1. Health and safety statistics from South Africa

"In 1991 in agriculture, 381 children under 16 were killed or injured at work, 50 per cent were temporarily disabled, 7 per cent were totally disabled and 1 per cent received fatal injury. Out of 3,730 children injured in the 16-20 age group, 3 per cent were permanently disabled and 0.4 per cent were killed. Children are more liable to suffer occupational injuries due to fatigue, poor judgement, insufficient knowledge of work processes and the fact that machinery and equipment are designed for adults."

(Department of Manpower, South Africa, Annual report 1991)

Involvement in action against child labour can also bring additional benefit to trade union organizations. Many unions have seen an increase in membership, and hitherto inactive or even dormant branches have been revitalized through these activities. Activities against child labour also bring trade unions into contact with workers in the sectors where they need better protection through unionization. For example, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) found that the campaign against child labour in the slate-mining industry helped develop a new approach to trade union activity, by reaching the workers through their children A worker commented that the image and credibility of the union had "shot up" and that the enthusiasm generated by the campaign was shared with other trade unions.

Trade unions can contribute directly and indirectly to the elimination of child labour in a number of ways. Evidence shows that there is little child labour in organized industries, and this demonstrates to other parties the benefit of trade union organization in the workplace. In addition, trade unions:

· are well placed to undertake information-gathering and to participate in national surveys;
· are often strong players in child labour campaigns;
· can negotiate collective bargaining agreements and codes of conduct to protect workers and children; and
· are able to monitor ongoing workplace practices and ensure that agreements are not abused.

Trade unions have a history of campaigning, and considerable experience of appropriate strategies to raise awareness and bring about change International trade union organizations can assist trade unionists at national level and support their organizations and campaigns.

Trade unions can also work in partnership with other unions, NGOs and employers' organizations (see Chapters 6 and 9). At the same time, such joint action assists understanding of the specific role the trade union movement is playing in the eradication of child labour.

While trade union action against child labour is fast growing, it is also important to acknowledge the difficulties some trade unions face.

In some countries it is difficult for trade unions to be a major contributor to activities, as awareness-raising is only just beginning, and the members are not necessarily sympathetic to the need to eradicate child labour. In other cases, where there are strict regulations on organizing workers, many unions have a range of other problems to face.

In order to understand the relatively slow start of trade union action against child labour in Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and to explore strategies to remove existing obstacles, 300 trade union leaders were surveyed. Sixty-four per cent indicated that the most relevant role for trade unions was to raise awareness, and 15 per cent felt that there should be a focus on lobbying. While all respondents agreed that child labour should be the concern of every trade unionist, technical and financial resources were not thought to be adequate to begin campaigns or take action. In each of these countries, the fast growth in the informal sector has also made it increasingly difficult for workers' organizations to organize along traditional patterns. Fundamental workers' rights to organize and to establish collective bargaining agreements have been restricted in free trade zones, and there has been an increase in subcontracting, homeworking, and piece-rate work.

Similar constraints are found in other countries. However, campaigning against child labour can help trade unions address these issues through effective liaison with and education of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), employers' organizations and governments. There is evidence that where strong trade unions exist, the occurrence of child labour is less likely.

The examples in the next section illustrate the growing activities of trade unions and how they can contribute to the elimination of child labour, even given the constraints they often face.

Box 7.2. Gold mining in Peru

"In Peru, action is limited since there is no national mine union, only a small union in the north east which does not have full-time representatives, so it is difficult for them to participate in meetings in the capital. It is also difficult to conduct surveys and take action due to the geographical conditions. There is very little union organisation, more and more children are going down the goldmines, there are almost no teachers in these areas and therefore few children have the opportunity to go to school."

(Anne Brown, International Federation of Chemical, Energy,
Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM))