IPEC's Partners

The ILO's strength as a leader in the fight against child labour lies in it tripartite structure, which has enable it to enter in to social dialogue with keys actors- that is the governments, employers' and workers' organization- and to widen the scope of its dialogue to bring in the other partners, such as non-governmental organizations, to form broad-based alliance at the national and international levels and to encourage sectoral action.

In all ILO-IPEC countries the Ministries of Labour are actively involved in the programmes. Cooperation has also started with other ministries concerned, especially the Ministries of Education, ministries and department dealing with youth, the family, the media, health and social welfare, and central coordination unit, such as national planning commission and Prime Ministers' Offices.

In all countries efforts are being made to involve local government at the state, provincial and district level.

The cooperation of employers is absolutely crucial in the combat against child labour. Concrete plans of action carried out by individual employers or by employers' organizations have succeeded in preventing child labour, withdrawing children from hazardous work and improving children work conditions.

Workers' organizations have become active IPEC partners. They play and important role in raising awareness among their member and child workers, in waging media campaigns and in monitoring children working conditions.

A wide variety of NGOs are major partners in combating child labour. They are often suitable channel for developing concrete activities with meet the needs of working children, their families and communities because of their knowledge of and proximity to theses groups. They also tend to succeed in promoting self-organization and involving these groups in planning and implementing the action programme.

Updated by CHW. Approved by AAM. Last update: 17 August 2001.