Combating Hazardous and Exploitative Child Labour in Surgical Instruments
Manufacturing (Phase II)
| Time-frame |
Donor(s) |
Duration: 3 years
Starting date: July 2003 |
Government of Italy
Surgical Instruments Manufacturers
Association of Pakistan (SIMAP) |
The Atlanta Agreement was followed by an initiative taken by the Italian Social Partners for combating
child labour in the surgical instruments industry, with the collaboration of the ILO and SIMAP (Surgical
Instruments Manufacturers' Association of Pakistan) in Sialkot district. The project, titled Combating
Hazardous and Exploitative Child Labour in Surgical Instruments Manufacturing through Prevention,
Withdrawal, and Rehabilitation, was launched in 2000.
The project aimed to:
- Withdraw children from surgical instruments manufacturing, prevent their entry into surgical
instruments manufacturing and provide appropriate rehabilitation, prevention, and protection to the
children and families targeted by the programme;
- Strengthen the capacity of the social partners (employers' and workers' organizations) to prevent and
progressively eliminate child labour in the surgical instruments industry.
Over a period of two years, the project has contributed to the reduction of child labour in one of the
country's major export industries. Under its direct action programmes, 1,496 children employed in surgical
instruments production workshops have been provided non-formal education and pre-vocational training.
Attendance in these programmes has resulted in substantially reduced working hours for the children.
The education initiative has been complemented with action by the labour groups, particularly the All
Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions (APFTU) and the All Pakistan Federation of Labour (APFOL). They
have established contact with the target groups and concerned stakeholders and carried out a number
of activities aimed at raising awareness about the child labour problem in the surgical instruments
industry, and the need to address it.
In view of the lessons learned and experience gained so far, the project has been extended into a second
phase. In its second phase, the project has been expanded to cover larger numbers of children. Around
1,200 children, aged 14 years and below, working in the surgical instruments industry in Sialkot district,
have been targeted to benefit from the project through the provisions of non-formal education, prevocational
training and other support services. The second phase of the project will be completed in
June 2006.
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