What can be done about child labour?
In some cases, working and earning can be a positive experience in a child's growing up. It depends on the age of the child, the conditions in which the child works, and whether work prevents the child from going to school. It is not realistic to suggest banning all forms of child labour, because so many poor families depend on income their children earn. However there are steps that could be taken to protect children from exploitation and reduce the need for children to do paid work. Important steps needed:
- Eliminate the most hazardous and exploitative forms of child labour
- Improve children's working conditions and their right to appropriate healthcare and recreation
- Provide education services for working children e.g. night schools and drop-in centres
- Challenge discrimination - e.g. some girls are expected to work while their brothers attend schools
- Work towards reducing poverty, the root cause of children needing to work
Particular attention needs to be given to eradicating the worst forms of child labour. These include: all forms of slavery and similar practices, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage (working to pay off family debts) and forced labour, (including forced recruitment of child soldiers); child prostitution and the use of children for pornography; the use of children for illicit activities (e.g. drug trafficking); and any work which is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. By ratifying the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention No. 182, countries commit themselves to take immediate action to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labour. This Convention was introduced in 1999, and is enjoying the fastest pace of ratifications in the ILO's history since 1919. So far 132 countries have signed up.