Child labour
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Child labour

Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo (within the meaning of UNSCR 1244), Moldova, Romania and Ukraine are the countries most seriously affected by the worst forms of child labour (WFCL) in Central and Eastern Europe The WFCL include trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation, street work, illicit activities (begging, petty theft and drug peddling) and hazardous work in agriculture. The prevalence of the WFCL in these countries has disastrous effects on the safety, health and well-being of children. Urgent action was and it is still needed to eliminate these practices.

Highlights

  1. Press release

    Combating Child Labour in Romania
    May 2, 2010

    In Central and Eastern Europe, the ILO, through its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), has provided direct services to over 19,000 child labourers and children at risk since 2000. The Global Report reviews the ILO's assistance to Romania.

  2. Film

    Ukraine: Child Labour in mining
    July 7, 2005

    In Ukraine, most legally-operated coal mines closed down following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Yet many families still dig for coal in illegal mines and children are expected to work, too. The International Labour Organization is working together with trade unions and the government to put an end to child labour and create new jobs.

Featured

In Moldova, there has been success in fighting child labour in the country's vast agricultural sector. One key to that success is the employers' Code of Conduct to eradicate the worst forms of child labour, which was developed with assistance from the ILO. Moldova's employers are also investing in new technologies and in their communities, to ensure a more prosperous future without child labour.
Press release

What's new

  1. Combating Child Labour in Romania

    02 May 2010

    In Central and Eastern Europe, the ILO, through its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), has provided direct services to over 19,000 child labourers and children at risk since 2000. The Global Report reviews the ILO's assistance to Romania.

  2. A total of 1178 children received direct support between 2006-2009 in Ukraine from the ILO-IPEC project

    30 October 2009

    A round-table was organized on October 30, 2009 by the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, International Labour Organization (ILO-IPEC) in Kiev, Ukraine to discuss the independent final evaluation of the second phase of the project «Trafficking and other Worst Forms of Child Labour in Central and Eastern Europe». Mr. Stephane Jeannet, independent evaluator, Mr. Vasyl Kostrytsya, ILO National Coordinator in Ukraine, and Ms. Tetyana Minenko, ILO-IPEC National Programme Manager participated in the round-table in addition to representatives of key ministries, social partners, international and non-governmental organizations.

  3. Launch of the Code of Conduct for Employers on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Agriculture and the Food Industry

    19 December 2007

    On 19 December the Council of the National Federation of Employers in Agriculture and Food Industry (FNPAIA) in Moldova unanimously endorsed a Code of Conduct for Employers on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Agriculture and the Food Industry with the support of the Bureau for Employers Activities (ACT/EMP) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The Code was the result of a three year long project funded by the Norwegian Government.

Potential of young people

The Global Crisis has provided further evidence of the vulnerability of children to economic hardship and the challenges young workers face especially in conditions of widespread unemployment. While child labour is unacceptable and must be eliminated, neglecting the potential of young people is an economic and social waste that economies cannot afford. If not adequately addressed, the impact of the crisis on children and youth can jeopardize countries’ human capital and generate long term negative consequences for economies in the region. Effective action is therefore necessary both at the national and regional levels to move children out of work and into school, and to redirect labour market demand away from children and towards youth.
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