12 June, Day Against Child Labour, Another Bold Reminder

On 12 June, civil society across everywhere will mark World Day Against Child Labour, this year coming on the 10th anniversary of adoption of ILO Convention 182, the convention that condemns the worst forms of child labour. In step with this year’s International Labour Conference gender theme, the ILO will focus 12 June on the exploitation of young girls in child labour.

The ILO estimates that 100 million girls are involved in child labour. The ICEM believes that the first and most important instrument toward decent work is education. A child and young adult’s education is the surest and securest way to escape poverty, and to grow as an adult into a decent and secure livelihood.

On this World Day Against Child Labour, the ICEM draws attention to our trade union affiliate at the Firestone Rubber Plantation in Liberia, a union that still must carry the fight to leave behind the scars of child labour. Despite a new collective agreement, Firestone has not implemented parts of it, including reductions on quotas for rubber tapping. It was these quotas that demanded children be used in order to fulfil production.

The ICEM calls attention to the rescue of 37 children in New Delhi, India, last week, who were restrained and bonded while performing needle-stitch work. For every such rescue, there are scores more illegal worksites that cheat and exploit children. The ICEM also makes note of a report from an NGO in Uzbekistan that the use of child labour in cotton fields is growing and becoming an even bigger menace. In Thailand, we know, it is common to abuse Lao and Burmese children while at work in sweatshops.

There are countless stories that certify child labour as the number one obstacle to decent work. The ICEM encourages everyone to acknowledge 12 June, but also to use it as the day to make a year-long commitment to expose and eradicate all forms of child labour.