Child labour remains one of the most significant developmental challenges facing the international community and affecting many countries worldwide. Of all the world’s children aged 5 to 17, an estimated one in seven is involved in child labour of some kind. In Indonesia, the 2006 national labour survey found that 2,749,353 children aged 10 to 15 years in 33 provinces are working.

One of the powerful agents to keep children stay in school and prevent children from entering the world of work is teachers and their organizations. Teachers have direct contact with children, allowing them to bring positive impact to the children about the importance of education and their future. They also interact with parents, communities and religious leaders, education authorities and other stakeholders.

Funded by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO), the project will run for three years. The Project aims to mobilize and capacitate teachers’ trade unions and other trade unions in combating child labours to reinforce the involvement of trade unions in child labour elimination. Teachers, educators and their organizations constitute a frontline group in the effort to eliminate child labour. Teachers can contribute to the prevention of child labour both by taking action in schools and by reaching out to the community.