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26 September, 2005ICEM News Release No. 27/2002
"The ending of child labour - and particularly of its worst forms - is an urgent task for trade unionists everywhere," said Fred Higgs today. Higgs is General Secretary of the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
Photo: Yamina De Laet - ICEM
"Child labour is found in a number of ICEM industries," he emphasised, "notably in the very hazardous sectors of mining, diamond and gem polishing and building materials. Our global agreements with multinational companies always insist on full compliance with the standards against child labour set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In the gem sector, we are committed to work together with employers, governments and the ILO to end the use of child labour."
Photo: Yamina De Laet - ICEM
Today is the first World Day Against Child Labour, launched by the ILO. Delegates to the 175-nation International Labour Conference in Geneva are today discussing the recently released ILO report "A Future Without Child Labour".
246 million children are involved in child labour, the report says. That is one in every six of the world's children aged between 5 and 17. Of these, some 179 million - one child in every eight - are still exposed to the worst forms of child labour, which endanger their physical, mental or moral well-being.
The World Day Against Child Labour will be held annually, in order to intensify support for the world campaign.