Read this article in:
17 July, 2000IMF regional representative for Southeast Asia, P. Arunasalam, wonders whether the trade unions have sidelined the issue of child labour.
JAPAN: At the IMF Japan Council seminar in Yokohama, Japan, Arunasalam started by quoting an ILO report: Around the world, some 250 million children between the age of five and 14 work for a living. Almost half, some 120 million work full time, every day, all year round. Of the 250 million children concerned, some 50-60 million are between five and 11 years old and work, by definition, in hazardous circumstances, considering their age and vulnerability. This is the estimated percentage of working children in Asia:
Bangladesh 30.12
Bhutan 55.10
China 11.55
India 14.37
Indonesia 9.55
Malaysia 3.16
Nepal 45.18
Pakistan 17.67
Philippines 8.04
Sri Lanka 4.9
Thailand 16.22
Vietnam 9.12
(Source: ILO's Bureau of statistics)
Trade unions should play a meaningful and realistic role in addressing this social problem, Arunasalam said. "I wonder, whether the trade union movement, over a period of time, has sidelined this issue so much so that NGOs are now emerging as the champions of the struggle to eliminate child labour. If the trade union movement fails to seriously engage itself in issues like child labour, particularly in the domestic front, then our role as champions of the social cause-struggle will be seriously questioned."
"I suggest that the international and national trade union movement explore the possibility of setting up an International trade union foundation to combat child labour. This foundation should be managed and run by trade unions and its activities and objects are to address the abolition of child labour. It can also involve itself in areas of child education and rehabilitation besides canvassing for the elimination of child labour. Trade unions should also be freely allowed to combat poverty together with their other social partners."
The employer either individually or through their organisations should be compelled to eliminate child labour in establishments where this situation exists, Arunasalam suggested. In cases where there is reluctance on the part of the employer certain punitive action should be undertaken. Such action may include boycotts and sanction against these companies.
Arunasalam finished by saying that the excuse of the employer's generosity in helping poor families by employing children should be discarded. "If such excuses are tolerated by the civil society, then I can certainly state that even in this century we can forget about the total eradication of child labour from the face of this world."
Bangladesh 30.12
Bhutan 55.10
China 11.55
India 14.37
Indonesia 9.55
Malaysia 3.16
Nepal 45.18
Pakistan 17.67
Philippines 8.04
Sri Lanka 4.9
Thailand 16.22
Vietnam 9.12
(Source: ILO's Bureau of statistics)
Trade unions should play a meaningful and realistic role in addressing this social problem, Arunasalam said. "I wonder, whether the trade union movement, over a period of time, has sidelined this issue so much so that NGOs are now emerging as the champions of the struggle to eliminate child labour. If the trade union movement fails to seriously engage itself in issues like child labour, particularly in the domestic front, then our role as champions of the social cause-struggle will be seriously questioned."
"I suggest that the international and national trade union movement explore the possibility of setting up an International trade union foundation to combat child labour. This foundation should be managed and run by trade unions and its activities and objects are to address the abolition of child labour. It can also involve itself in areas of child education and rehabilitation besides canvassing for the elimination of child labour. Trade unions should also be freely allowed to combat poverty together with their other social partners."
The employer either individually or through their organisations should be compelled to eliminate child labour in establishments where this situation exists, Arunasalam suggested. In cases where there is reluctance on the part of the employer certain punitive action should be undertaken. Such action may include boycotts and sanction against these companies.
Arunasalam finished by saying that the excuse of the employer's generosity in helping poor families by employing children should be discarded. "If such excuses are tolerated by the civil society, then I can certainly state that even in this century we can forget about the total eradication of child labour from the face of this world."