World Day against Child Labour: Indonesia to mark the World Day with focus on social protection

This year’s World Day against Child Labour is marked by a focus on the important role of social protection in ending child labour. Taking the theme: “Extend Social Protection to Combat Child Labour”, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with Yayasan Sekar, is organising an event on Monday, 23 June 2014, at the educational shelter of Penjaringan, Jakarta to increase awareness on the existence of the social protection programmes and call for extension and improvement of efforts to fight and combat child labour in Indonesia.

Press release | Jakarta, Indonesia | 23 June 2014
JAKARTA (ILO News): This year’s World Day against Child Labour is marked by a focus on the important role of social protection in ending child labour. Taking the theme: “Extend Social Protection to Combat Child Labour”, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with Yayasan Sekar, is organising an event on Monday, 23 June 2014, at the educational shelter of Penjaringan, Jakarta to increase awareness on the existence of the social protection programmes and call for extension and improvement of efforts to fight and combat child labour in Indonesia.

The child shelter is developed under the government programme on the withdrawal of child labour (PPA-PKH), demonstrating one of the existing social protection programmes. The shelter provides one month bridging education for child labourers before referring the children to the existing educational programme (formal and non-formal). Under the PPA-PKH programme, the Government of Indonesia aims at withdrawing 16,000 child labourers in 2014 from selected districts and municipalities across the country. The PPA-PKH programme is being implemented since 2008 as part of Indonesia’s efforts to eliminate child labour.
Social protection measures play an important role in ending child labour. Pension, as well as unemployment, maternity, employment injury and disability benefits help prevent situations where children have to work to supplement inadequate family incomes or enter child labour due to death, injury, sickness or other sudden income shocks


The latest ILO report, “World Social Protection Report 2014/15, shows that many children do not receive the child and family benefits they need to realize their potential. Underinvestment in children jeopardizes their rights and future, including their right to be protected from child labour. The report also highlights the importance of cash and in-kind child and family benefits, especially when combined with access to education and health services. These cash transfer programmes have been implemented widely across the world, including Indonesia.

Peter van Rooij, Director of the ILO in Indonesia, said that the ILO’s main goal is the progressive elimination of all child labour, particularly its worst forms, worldwide. “Social protection measures play an important role in ending child labour. Pension, as well as unemployment, maternity, employment injury and disability benefits help prevent situations where children have to work to supplement inadequate family incomes or enter child labour due to death, injury, sickness or other sudden income shocks,” he said.

In the event, an interactive dialogue on building up social protection systems will be conducted, presenting representatives of government officials, academia and civil society organization. In addition, the shelter children will perform a musical drama depicting their journey from child labourers to children with new hopes of going back to school. The event will be concluded with the inauguration of the shelter children as the event also marks the last day of the children in the shelter.

More than 100 invitees will attend the event, including children and their families, government officials, trade unions, employers’ organizations, international and national organizations and mass media.

According to the latest ILO global estimates, the total number of child labourers fell from 215 to 168 million between 2008 and 2012. The number of children in hazardous work fell from 115 to 85 million. Since 2000, child labour has declined by one third and progress is accelerating. Therefore, the ILO calls on government to step up their efforts to extend social protection in order to keep children out of child labour.

For further information please contact:


Ms Arum Ratnawati
ILO’s Chief Technical Adviser of the Child Labour Programme
Tel.: +6221 3913112 ext. 130
Email

Mr Fasrul
ILO’s Programme Coordinator for Child Labour and Education
Tel.: +6221 3913112 ext. 126
Email

Ms Dyah Sudarto
ILO’s Programme Officer
Tel.: +6221 3913112 ext. 116
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Ms Gita Lingga
Media Relations Officer
Tel.: +6221 3913112 ext. 115
Email