The World Day against Child Labour 2015: Children to challenge policy makers on quality education

JAKARTA (ILO News): The International Labour Organization (ILO) in Indonesia, in collaboration with Yasayan Kesejahteraan Anak Indonesia, will organize an interactive dialogue between children (school children, dropped out children, child labourers and shelter children) and policy makers on quality education on Thursday, 11 June, at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, Jakarta from 08.00am-12.00pm. The interactive dialogues is organized in conjunction with the commemoration of the World Day against Child Labour on 12th of June, under the theme: “No to Child Labour, Yes to Quality Education”.

The interactive dialogue marks the long journey and efforts in tackling child labour in Indonesia. The dialogue also marks the importance of quality education as a key step in tackling child labour. Free and compulsory education of good quality up to the minimum age for admission to employment is a key tool in ending child labour. Attendance at school removes children in part at least from the labour market and lays the basis for the acquisition of employability skills needed for future productive employment.

This interactive dialogue is expected to strengthen the commitment among policy makers to develop relevant policies in ensuring quality education in the country, and to increase awareness as well as mobilize supports from key stakeholders on the elimination of child labour through education.

To further discuss about the improvement of quality education in the country, 25 children from Jakarta, Banten, Malang and Nias will challenge the policy makers and relevant officials on issues related to free compulsory and quality education, efforts to improve national policies on child labour education and policies that ensure quality education and investment in the teaching profession. These children represent school children, dropped out children and working children in the following sectors: stone mining, construction, agriculture, home industry and manufacturing.
Based on their own experiences and plights in getting quality education, the children will present their views and observation related to quality education from access to education, infrastructure to teaching methods and availability of teachers, particularly in remote areas. These children will pose questions to key officials from the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).

This interactive dialogue is expected to strengthen the commitment among policy makers to develop relevant policies in ensuring quality education in the country, and to increase awareness as well as mobilize supports from key stakeholders on the elimination of child labour through education. The dialogue is also part of a series of activities conducted by the ILO and its partners to highlight national efforts against child labour, particularly its worst forms.

The dialogue is conducted by the ILO through its Combating Child Labour through Education and Skills Training for Older Children Project, funded by the Government of Netherlands. The Project aims to contribute to eliminating child labour by enhancing access to decent work for children who have reached the minimum age of employment. The Project also supports the efforts taken by the Government of Indonesia to reach child labour-free Indonesia in 2022.

For further information please contact:

Fasrul Abbas
ILO’s National Project Coordinator for Child Labour Programme
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 126
Email

Gita Lingga
ILO’s Media Relations Officer
Tel. : +6221 391 3112 ext. 115
Email