International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC)

Amid growing concerns over the impact of the economic downturn, the International Labour Office (ILO) has warned that efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour are slowing down and called for a “re-energized” global campaign to end the practice.
In its Global Report on child labour, the ILO has said that the global number of child labourers had declined from 222 million to 215 million, or 3 per cent, over the period 2004 to 2008, representing a “slowing down of the global pace of reduction.” The report also expressed concern that the global economic crisis could “further brake” progress toward the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016.
The new ILO global report, entitled Accelerating action against child labour , presents detailed estimates. Progress was greatest among children aged 5-14, where the number of child labourers fell by 10 per cent. Child labour among girls decreased by 15 per cent. However, it increased among boys (by 8 million or 7 per cent). What’s more, child labour among young people aged 15 to 17 increased by 20 per cent, from 52 million to 62 million.
Further to the discussion of the Global Report at the International Labour Conference in June, the Governing Body in November 2010 endorsed the Global Plan of Action for achieving the elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2016 - the ambitious goal that was originally suggested by the 2006 Global Report on child labour. The 2010 Global Action Plan provides a strategic agenda and action plan for the ILO, and in particular IPEC, in the years ahead towards 2016. It specifically refers to and incorporates the Roadmap adopted by The Hague Global Child Labour Conference held in May 2010.

What's new

Article

Unravelling the cycle of bonded labour in Afghanistan
7 February 2012
According to a new ILO report launched in Kabul on 7 February 2012, Afghan brick kilns heavily rely on debt bondage of adults and children. Even when families make progress toward paying back loans, the perpetual need for more advances (often for medical purposes or basic necessities), keep most families tied to their employers. Bonded labour of adults and children in brick kilns is one of the most prevalent, yet least known forms of hazardous labour in Afghanistan. The new ILO study on the phenomenon, Buried in Bricks, marks the first attempt to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of bonded labour in two provinces of the country, Kabul and Nangarhar.
Article

Buried in bricks: Bonded labour in Afghanistan
6 February 2012
Bonded labour of adults and children in brick kilns is one of the most prevalent, yet least known forms of hazardous labour in Afghanistan. A new ILO study on the phenomenon marks the first attempt to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of bonded labour in two provinces of the country. ILO Online spoke with Sarah Cramer, lead author of the ILO study.
Report

Buried in bricks: A rapid assessment of bonded labour in brick kilns in Afghanistan
6 February 2012
This study analyses bonded labour in brick kilns within the broader humanitarian and development context to help stakeholders address the risks of bonded labour in light of social, economic and political policy priorities. It provides a bottom-up and top-down analysis drawing from data gathered from bonded labourers, employers, and local community leaders in Deh Sabz, Kabul, and Surkhroad, Nangarhar, as well as from interviews with stakeholders and experts between August and October 2011.
Training manual

Mainstreaming child labour concerns in education sector plans and programmes
20 December 2011
This resource material considers the links between tackling child labour and promoting Education for All. The material is designed to support a short training workshop on these issues and it includes activities and a model workshop programme.
A platform for information exchange

Online version of "Growing up protected: A handbook for the protection of adolescent workers"
15 December 2011
IPEC and the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT/EMP) launched, in collaboration with the Chilean Safety Association (ACHS), the online version of the handbook “Growing up protected: A handbook for the protection of adolescent workers”. This electronic version aims to provide a platform for information exchange and looks to promote compliance with legal working conditions for adolescent workers in Chile as stated in the Labour Code, ILO Conventions, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other international standards. The handbook, developed to assist small and medium enterprises in the Chilean context, can serve as a model and is applicable in other countries. The print version of the handbook was published in July 2010.
1. Growing up protected: A handbook for the protection of adolescent workers - PDF version
Feature story

Questions and answers on the hidden reality of children in domestic work
08 August 2011
The recently approved ILO Convention No. 189 and Recommendation No. 201 on decent work for domestic workers aim to protect and improve working and living conditions of millions of workers worldwide, who have few – if any – labour rights. Many are children who spend long hours working as domestic helpers, performing tasks such as cleaning, ironing, cooking, minding other children and gardening instead of being at school. ILO News spoke to ILO experts Martin Oelz (TRAVAIL) and José M. Ramírez (IPEC) on the current situation of child domestic workers and how the new Convention and Recommendation can help impact their lives.
1. Domestic Workers Recommendation No. 201, 2011
2. Domestic Workers Convention No. 189, 2011
Report

Children in hazardous work: What we know, what we need to do
10 June 2011
This report reviews the current state of knowledge concerning children in hazardous work and presents the case for a new focus on the issue as part of the wider global effort to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. The report highlights recent global trends while comprehensively summarizing the scientific evidence base related to health and well-being of working children. It identifies the key challenges not only in understanding the effects of hazardous work on childhood development, but also in preventing and eliminating hazardous occupational exposures for children. In addition, the report features good practice approaches of various stakeholder groups that have demonstrated the potential to be scaled up and discusses the importance of an integrated policy response to the issue. For more information please contact ipec@ilo.org.
Highlights
Conference report

The Hague Global Child Labour Conference 2010 - Towards a World without Child Labour, Mapping the Road to 2016
9 November 2010
This report captures the proceedings and outcome of the Global Child Labour Conference 2010, held in The Hague (the Netherlands) on 10 and 11 May. It includes the text of the Roadmap for achieving the elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2016, which was adopted by acclamation.
Working paper

A new ILO working paper on migration and child labour: Exploring child migrant vulnerabilities and those of children left behind
07 October 2010
The working paper attempts to describe the correlation between migration and child labour by reviewing secondary data of migrant children with or without their families, and children left behind by their migrant parents. The paper observes that governments’ migration policies need to be balanced with their obligations under international conventions to ensure that the rights of children, including migrant children, are protected, including the right to be free from child labour. The paper offers a range of policy considerations, including in the world of work, and points at knowledge gaps.
1. International Conference on "Children on the Move"
Fact sheet

Facts on Child Labour 2010
07 May 2010
For over a decade, child labour has been recognized as a key issue of human rights at work together with freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the abolition of forced labour, and non-discrimination in occupation and employment...