Strengthening efforts to combat child labour through South-South intra-African cooperation
Key discussions during the workshop cantered around the insights and reflections gleaned from field visits, paving the way for identifying potential partnerships and strategies for effective implementation.
23 February 2024
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
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Blantyre, Malawi, 23 February, 2024 - In a significant stride towards eliminating child labour in the tea industry, a comprehensive knowledge-sharing workshop was convened following the insightful Tea-Triangular study visit involving Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya. This initiative, led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the ACCEL Africa project, underscores a collaborative effort aimed at eradicating child labour practices within the tea and coffee supply chains.
The study visit highlighted the urgent need to organize workers in the tea supply chain, enhance their awareness, and significantly improve their livelihoods as key measures to combat child labour. The adoption of a tripartite approach, engaging the private sector, workers, communities, and local authorities, has been reaffirmed as a cornerstone strategy in this endeavour.
Key discussions during the workshop cantered around the insights and reflections gleaned from field visits, paving the way for identifying potential partnerships and strategies for effective implementation.
Despite its challenges, Malawi has made commendable strides in addressing child labour within its tea sector, demonstrating a proactive and multifaceted approach to this complex issue. The establishment of the multi-stakeholder child labour monitoring mechanism, stands out as a good practice, aimed at ensuring compliance with laws, policies, and ILO standards on child labour across the supply chain. Furthermore, the integration of gender policies and the focus on the sustainability of child labour elimination efforts further reflect Malawi's holistic approach to creating a more equitable tea industry.
As an Alliance 8.7 pathfinder country, Uganda has been actively fighting child labour supported by tripartite partners and the ILO. Within this context, the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE), emphasized on the importance of education, responsible business practices, and social dialogue to combat child labour. FUE's commitment to eliminate child labour in the tea supply chain is reflected in improved policies, training programs for farmers and officials, and nationwide awareness campaigns through radio and TV, which have reached about 15 million people and advocated for the eradication of child labour.
Kenya's commitment to advancing the principles of tripartism was highlighted as a crucial element in this collective fight against child labour. The emphasis on fostering social dialogue at all levels, including at the household level, was identified as a critical area of focus to prevent the displacement of child labour from supply chains to domestic settings. As Kenya embarks on the second phase of the ACCEL project, it is prepared to incorporate the best practices and lessons learned from Tea-triangular study visit.
As a conclusion of the meeting, Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya worked on a South-South Intra-African Partners Communique, which marks a significant milestone in the collective effort to eradicate child labour within the tea supply chain across Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya under the ACCEL Africa project. The resolution, born from the collaborative spirit showcased during the Tea-triangular study visit and the delegations’ meetings in Uganda and Malawi, reaffirms the commitment of the participating countries and the ILO to leverage South-South cooperation for the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and in-kind resources. By fostering an environment of mutual learning and support, this partnership aims to enhance the efficacy of initiatives aimed at the total elimination of child labour in the tea sector.
This collaborative initiative not only highlights the shared commitment among the participating countries but also sets a precedent for effective international cooperation in addressing global labour challenges. The workshop served as a testament to the power of shared learning and cooperation in fostering sustainable solutions for the eradication of child labour in the tea sector and beyond. The ILO, alongside its partners, remains dedicated to the pursuit of SDG 8.7, striving for the eradication of child labour, and the promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers, particularly those in vulnerable and marginalized communities.
The study visit highlighted the urgent need to organize workers in the tea supply chain, enhance their awareness, and significantly improve their livelihoods as key measures to combat child labour. The adoption of a tripartite approach, engaging the private sector, workers, communities, and local authorities, has been reaffirmed as a cornerstone strategy in this endeavour.
Key discussions during the workshop cantered around the insights and reflections gleaned from field visits, paving the way for identifying potential partnerships and strategies for effective implementation.
Despite its challenges, Malawi has made commendable strides in addressing child labour within its tea sector, demonstrating a proactive and multifaceted approach to this complex issue. The establishment of the multi-stakeholder child labour monitoring mechanism, stands out as a good practice, aimed at ensuring compliance with laws, policies, and ILO standards on child labour across the supply chain. Furthermore, the integration of gender policies and the focus on the sustainability of child labour elimination efforts further reflect Malawi's holistic approach to creating a more equitable tea industry.
As an Alliance 8.7 pathfinder country, Uganda has been actively fighting child labour supported by tripartite partners and the ILO. Within this context, the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE), emphasized on the importance of education, responsible business practices, and social dialogue to combat child labour. FUE's commitment to eliminate child labour in the tea supply chain is reflected in improved policies, training programs for farmers and officials, and nationwide awareness campaigns through radio and TV, which have reached about 15 million people and advocated for the eradication of child labour.
Kenya's commitment to advancing the principles of tripartism was highlighted as a crucial element in this collective fight against child labour. The emphasis on fostering social dialogue at all levels, including at the household level, was identified as a critical area of focus to prevent the displacement of child labour from supply chains to domestic settings. As Kenya embarks on the second phase of the ACCEL project, it is prepared to incorporate the best practices and lessons learned from Tea-triangular study visit.
As a conclusion of the meeting, Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya worked on a South-South Intra-African Partners Communique, which marks a significant milestone in the collective effort to eradicate child labour within the tea supply chain across Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya under the ACCEL Africa project. The resolution, born from the collaborative spirit showcased during the Tea-triangular study visit and the delegations’ meetings in Uganda and Malawi, reaffirms the commitment of the participating countries and the ILO to leverage South-South cooperation for the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and in-kind resources. By fostering an environment of mutual learning and support, this partnership aims to enhance the efficacy of initiatives aimed at the total elimination of child labour in the tea sector.
This collaborative initiative not only highlights the shared commitment among the participating countries but also sets a precedent for effective international cooperation in addressing global labour challenges. The workshop served as a testament to the power of shared learning and cooperation in fostering sustainable solutions for the eradication of child labour in the tea sector and beyond. The ILO, alongside its partners, remains dedicated to the pursuit of SDG 8.7, striving for the eradication of child labour, and the promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers, particularly those in vulnerable and marginalized communities.