12th of June - ILO World Day against Child Labour

Red card to Child Labour is ILO 2010 campaign to eliminate child labour On this ILO World Day against Child Labour, the UITBB calls for compliance with ILO conventions, namely the Convention nº 182 on the worst forms of child labour (1999) and the Convention nº 138 on minimum age (1973). The UITBB also underlines, as the UITBB Women’s Commission meeting reiterated in Bamako, capital of Mali, in May 2010, that the improvement of the situation of children and of the condition of women implies the reduction to a minimum of informal labour, a type of labour that the UITBB Women’s Commission considers a key factor in the exploitation of women. Indeed, informal labour thwarts compliance with ILO conventions and limits the possibilities to unionise labourers, particularly in the case of women and child labourers. Yet, improving the situation of women and their working conditions improves the standards of living of all, families and society as a whole. The recent crisis has affected many male dominated industries, and has indeed put numerous men out of job. Hence women have taken a very active part in sustaining the family income and insured the economic viability of their home. Moreover, it should be recalled that a woman whose activity yields her a decent income is also a mother who puts her children to school and not to work. Go for the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016 (Respect makes a difference in life) The 12th of June - World Day against Child Labour- is, according to the ILO, an occasion to promote awareness and action to tackle child labour, by : •    Renewed urgency to tackle the worst forms of child labour. •    Scaling up global, national and local level efforts by making action against all forms of child labour an integral part of poverty reduction, social protection and education planning strategies. •    Building political and popular commitment to tackling child labour, with social partners and civil society playing a leading role in advocacy and awareness raising efforts. The fight to make the Worst Forms of Child Labour recede must be scaled up It is now ten years since the coming into force of the International Labour Organisation’s Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (ILO Convention No. 182). The Convention has so far been ratified by over 90 percent of the International Labour Organization's 182 member States. Yet Juan Somavia, the director of ILO has stated that the world has some 215 million child labourers - most in hazardous work and that this scourge should be eliminated. Unrealistic in times of crisis? On the contrary “ending child labour cannot wait for economic recovery – it contributes to recovery and to sustainable development” insists Juan Somavia. The ILO states that tackling family poverty is a central part of the strategy to tackle child labour. Ensuring that adults have employment and decent work is vital. Furthermore, the ILO suggests governments to implement social protection strategies which assist poor families.  Tackling child labour is also closely related with progress on basic education. The UITBB believes that the eradication of child labor will be the result of a chain of demands, backed by multiple solidarity expressed through strong civil society and union organizations, with a clear analysis of the balance of power and a class based approach. The best evidence that workers are not on the same boat with capitalists is that when she sinks or is sunk, the capitalists are always on land. For child labour to be eliminated, we need strong women, women who enjoy full rights. For women to obtain and exercise their rights, they should unite and united they should join in with workers' organizations so that the role of women and the importance of their contribution to society are recognized and incorporated into collective agreements and legislation. The presence of women in regulated workplaces, that is to say, under the rule of law and protected by their organizations induces a change of attitudes, provides stable homes and ensures that children are pupils, not workers.