1. Background
Ten years ago a global consensus was reached to tackle and eliminate the worst forms of child labour as a main priority for national and international action. In June 1999, the International Labour Conference unanimously adopted the Worst Form of Child Labour Convention No. 182. Rapid progress has been made ever since. China ratified the Convention in 2002, following their ratification in 1999 of ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age. Taken together, the two are referred to as the Child Labour Conventions.
Scores of ILO member States have taken effective measures, and as a result there is an encouraging reduction in child labour world-wide –especially its worst forms. Yet, there is more to do. The ILO estimates that around the world, 218 million children could be regarded as child labours, and 126 million of these are engaged in hazardous work. The Global Action Plan proposes that ILO and its member States continue to pursue the goal of the effective abolition of child laobur by committing themselves to the elimination of all worst forms of child labour by 2016.
In May 2010, the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment with the ILO will organize The Hague Global Child Labour Conference: Towards a World without Child Labour. ILOs’ Global Report will be launched at the Conference. The event will take stock of world-wide progress to date, including good practices and lessons learned, and will re-commit world efforts to meet the 2016 target of the Global Action Plan.
It is proposed to convene an inter-agency seminar in Hangzhou, China this December as a timely opportunity to raise awareness on the Child Labour Conventions among the different stakeholders active in relevant policy areas, and to discuss strategies and good practices for going forward, particularly as the Project to Prevent Trafficking in Girls and Young Women for Labour Exploitation in China is complete, and a new phase will begin.
This seminar is hosted by the Women’s Federation of Zhejiang Province, and will include national, provincial, and city representatives, including the Women’s Federation; ministries and bureaus of Labour, Education, and Civil Affairs; research institutes; employers and union representatives. Technical expertise will be offered by the ILO.
2. Objective
The seminar will raise the level of awareness among participants on the content and requirements of the Conventions, as well as supervisory process, and make connections to policy issues in China. Participants will become more familiar with strategies in China that reduce child labour. In addition, relevant international experiences and strategies will be shared as partners discuss their future plans.
3. Agenda
Day 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
Time |
Content |
Speaker |
8:45 – 9:00 |
Registration |
|
9:00 – 9:15 |
I. Opening Ceremony 1. All China Women’s Federation 2. Women’s Federation of Zhejiang Province 3. ILO China |
Ms. Zou Xiaoqiao, Director-General of the International Department of ACWF Ms. Constance Thomas, Director, ILO office for China and Mongolia |
9:15 – 10:30 |
II. Overview 1. ILO’s Child Labour Conventions - Education, Minimum age, Apprenticeship and Training, Hazardous work, Worst Forms, etc. Supervisory processes. 2. Child Labour Factors in China Q and A |
Mr. Tim de Meyer, International Labour Standard Specialist, ILO Sub-Region Office, Bangkok Chinese presenter (TBD) |
10:30 – 10:45 |
Tea Break |
|
10:45 – 11:30 |
3. Description of Effective Interventions Supporting the Conventions from the International Program on Elimination of Child Labour Q and A |
Ms. Simrin Singh, Child Labour Specialist, ILO Sub-Region Office, Bangkok |
11:30 – 13:00 |
Lunch |
|
13:00 – 14:30 |
III. Education and Training Needs of Youth 1. Compulsory Education in China –Achievements and Challenges 2. Vocational and Apprenticeship Training in China Q and A |
Chinese Presenter Chinese Presenter |
14:30 – 14:45 |
Tea Break |
|
14:45 – 17:00 |
3. Apprenticeship Law and Practice, International Examples 4. China’s ‘Yubeiyi’ Program -Lessons Learned Q and A |
Tim de Meyer Deng Baoshan or Labour Bureau |
Close of Day 1 |
||
Day 2 |
||
9:00 – 10:30 |
IV. Labour Inspection 1. Overview of Labour Inspection Regulations 2. Pilots in Inspection and Community Monitoring -Zhejiang Labour Bureau -Women’s Federation -ACFTU Q and A |
MHRSS |
10:30 – 10:45 |
Tea Break |
|
10:45 – 11:30 |
3. The Philippines Experience: Integrated Initiatives for Labour Monitoring and Inspection Q and A |
|
11:30 – 13:00 |
Lunch |
|
13:00 – 14:30 |
V. Planning for the Future 1. Good Practices that Prevent Pre-mature Entry into the Labour Force -CP-TING -Gender initiatives (school fees for girls, parents education, etc) 2. Good Practices in Rehabilitation -Other? Q and A |
Women’s Federation Civil Affairs |
14:30 – 14:45 |
Tea Break |
|
14:45 – 16:15 |
3. What good practices can be built on? What future interventions should we consider? |
Women’s Federation facilitate discussion |
VI Closing Remarks 1. Women’s Federation 2. ILO |
||
4. List of Participants
National Level – All China Women’s Federation (4), MHRSS (2), All China Federation of Trade Unions (2), Research Institute (1)
Provincial Level –Zhejiang Women’s Federation (3), Labour Bureau (2), Trade Union (2), Employers (2), Education (2), Civil Affairs (2), Research Institutes (2)
City Level –Hangzhou Women’s Federation (2), Labour Bureau (2), Trade Union (2), Employers (2), Education (2), Civil Affairs (2)
ILO China Office and Outside Experts (10)
Logistics (3) and Simultaneous Translation (2)
Total: 51 persons
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