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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned those violating international labour standards in different countries and workplaces.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said this while making a presentation at the ongoing 110th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILO) on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland.
This year’s conference had:”Social Justice, decent work” as its theme.
Wabba was reacting to the report of the Director-General of International Labour Organisation(ILO), Mr Guy Ryder.
According to him, we are appalled and opposed to the growing resistance against trade unionism through obstructions of freedom of association, freedom to organise, freedom to collectively bargain.
“The right to strike and the irresponsible violation of collective bargaining agreements especially by multinational companies is appalling,’’ he said.
He noted that globally, workers are concerned about the rise of fascism, ultra-nationalism, unilateralism, irresponsible capitalism, and despotism.
He noted that this had threatened not only the fabrics of harmonious industrial relations but also the foundations of global peace and our collective survival.
Wabba further noted that the aggression by Russia against Ukraine had turned about seven million Ukrainians into refugees, maimed and killed thousands more.
According to him, we should be worried that the war in Ukraine almost brought the world to the doorsteps of a nuclear winter.
“Currently, the global food and energy supply chain has been severely serrated by this war leading to hyper-inflation, hunger and destitution in many countries.
“ It is workers and their families that suffer most during senseless wars like this.
“The working people of the world unequivocally denounce the ongoing human tragedy in Ukraine.
“We stand in solidarity with the workers and people of Ukraine. We demand a stop to the aggression now. We implore Russia to embrace dialogue, ‘’he said.
He added that the opening statements of the Director General of the ILO sum it up – “those who resort to war deny social justice”.
“I must add that “those who choose war admit and advertise the failure of their humanity.”
The NLC president said that succinctly put, “wars in the 21st century mock any claim to grand milestones in civilization.
“Just as we arebspeaking out against the violation of the UN Charter by the aggressors in Ukraine, we also condemn those violating international labour standards in different countries and workplaces.
He, however, condemned the recent military coups in parts of Africa and Myanmar.
“We call for the restoration of genuine democratic, plural and participatory governance in the affected countries.
“We call for a new social contract anchored on a human-centered approach to recovery and which prioritizes decent work, social dialogue, social protection, just transition to green economy.
“That is inclusive and sustainable development and the resolve to make and operationalise Occupational Health and Safety as a fundamental right at work in line with the demands of the ILO Centenary Declaration and the Global Call to Action,’’ he said.
He also commended the commitment of the social partners in Nigeria for institutionalising Social Dialogue through the resuscitation of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC).
Wabba also noted that the tripartite structure had completed the process of reviewing of five Labour laws expecting the government to forward the laws to the Nigerian parliament without delay.
He also said similarly, the NLAC had also been utilised to process ILO Convention 190 for ratification.
“We are confident that this ratification will happen very soon.
“Together, we can make the world a better place to live, work and raise our families,’’ he said.
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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to end the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other university-based unions.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call in his contributions to the report of the Director-General, International Labour Organisation, during the 110th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
The conference which opened on Tuesday has the theme: “Social justice, decent work”.
According to Wabba, the NLC has written to the Federal Government on how to end the universities’ workers strike.
“We call on government to bring this strike to an end without further delay,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while the Federal Government continue to work on the demands of the unions, academic activities across all public universities have been suspended.
Wabba said that the NLC had written to President Muhammadu Buhari on how to use a high-powered delegation to end the strike.
He said that one of the main issues in contention was the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, a salary payment platform developed by ASUU.
“I think the process has been concluded, what we are waiting for is for that process to be reconvened again and for that issue to be resolved. We opened that channel of intervention among others.
“I am also aware that the Interfaith Religious Council also met with Mr president and the thinking was in the same direction.
“We will be very committed in reviewing that process and making sure that our children are made to go back to school.
“The best way to resolve disputes under the ILO rule is through a social dialogue process that works and that respects collective bargaining agreements.
”That will be a lasting option to actually addressing some of those issues and disputes, and I think it is high time that’s done,” he said.
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The 110th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will take place between May 27 and June 11 June, in Geneva Switzerland..
This is contained in a statement by the ILO Media Advisory Department on Monday in Abuja.
The statement said the conference will be held in hybrid format, with delegates attending in person in Geneva, as well as virtually.
According to the statement, this is to take account of COVID-19 sanitary and travel restrictions, as well as renovation work at the UN and ILO buildings in Geneva.
“The ILC’s opening sitting (which will be fully virtual), will take place on May 27, committees will begin their work on May 30, while Plenary sittings will be held between June 6 and June 11.
“ The high-level World of Work Summit will take place on June 10. The Conference will close on June 11,” it said.
It said among the items on the agenda will be the possible amendment of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, 1998 , to include safe and healthy working conditions.
It also added that an initial discussion on apprenticeships would take place, with a view to the possible creation of a new international labour standard.
According to the statement, committees will also discuss decent work and the social and solidarity economy, and the strategic objective of employment as part of the follow-up mechanism of the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization .
It said the conference would be followed by a meeting of the ILO’s Governing Body on June, 13, to elect its Officers for the period 2022-2023.
It added that journalists who are not already accr
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UN report shows negative global employment trend in 1st quarter
UN report shows negative global employment trend in 1st quarter
Employment
Geneva, May 23, 2022 The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has announced that the positive trend in the number of hours worked around the world has stalled and is now at risk of going into reverse.
The Organisation said this in Geneva on Monday.
The UN body attributed the decline in hours worked in the first quarter largely to the recent pandemic containment measures in China.
The figure remains 3.8 per cent below that recorded in the last quarter of 2019, used by the ILO as its pre-crisis benchmark.
Estimates for the first quarter of 2022 presented a marked deterioration, compared to the projections made in January of 2.4 per cent below the pre-crisis level, it said.
Apart from the restrictions imposed in China, the ILO report highlighted the effects of the war in Ukraine, which it said had hit the global economy by increasing inflation, especially in food and energy prices, and disrupting global supply chains.
It pointed to heightened financial turbulence and monetary policy tightening as likely to have a broader impact on labour markets around the world in the months to come.
“There is a growing but uncertain risk of a further deterioration in hours worked over 2022,’’ it predicted.
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The Federal Government and the International Labour Organisation(ILO) has called for proper planning of climate policies to ensure effective implementation in the country.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige said this while inaugurating the “Just Transition and Green Jobs Project for Nigeria’’ on Monday in Abuja.
The project which is also known as the “Social Dimension of Ecological Transition has been domiciled as the “Just Transition and Green Jobs for Nigeria Project”.
It is also been implemented in some other African countries such as Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Nigeria and scheduled to run until December 2024.
Ngige, represented by Ms Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said that to achieve the aim of the climate policies, all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors must be actively involved.
He said the initiative is key to national development due to the dire need for Nigeria to fulfill her obligations, as contained in the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
According to him, the entire African continent, contributes less than three per cent of the Green House Gas (GHG).
“The impact of global warming is more severe on the socio-economic well-being of the developing countries.
“The situation is made worse by the fact that most of these countries are already being challenged by intermittent economic instabilities and recessions.
“This is due to COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other development challenges contributing to their high poverty profiles and poor social indices,’’ he said.
Ngige added that for instance, the intense global campaigns to replace fossil fuel with renewable energy sources have adverse implications on Nigeria’s economy.
He said this was due to the nation’s high dependence on crude oil exportation as the major source of foreign exchange earnings.
The minister said the degree of impact of climate actions on sectors in Nigeria vary; with the oil and gas industry expected to be most severely affected.
“However, the agricultural industry, as well as five other sectors identified in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), will also be hard hit if ignored in the process of cushioning the impact of the actions on workers.
“This would create a dependency phenomenon, with loss of jobs in large numbers and significant economic pressures on the livelihood of the affected workforce, ultimately sending negative ripples on the nation’s economy at macro level.
“Therefore, the climate policies and strategies formulated for Nigeria must be carefully planned, implemented and evaluated to ensure that no one is left behind, ‘’he said.
He added that this justifies the multi-sectoral composition of both the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and Technical Work Group (TWG) which have been inaugurated on this project.
“It is expected that the launch of the Just Transition Project in Nigeria would create massive awareness and sensitise stakeholders and the general public on the need to support the initiative.
“That is towards harnessing the various opportunities created by the climate change actions in Nigeria.
“Also, the focus is to grow the economy, ameliorate any undesirable socio-economic impact on workers; strengthen the workforce by replacing obsolete skills and creating new jobs,’’ he said.
The minister added that the project, which is designed to be private sector led, will ensure that substitution of fossil energy with solar, wind powers, among others would not lead to deficits in job volumes.
He said it would also open new and diverse opportunities for new investments, technologies and jobs, especially for young Nigerians.
Ngige however, noted the high prospects of the initiative towards the reduction of the lingering high unemployment and under employment rates in Nigeria.
ILO Country Director to Nigeria, Ms Vanessa Phala, said the actions planned under the project will contribute to strengthening the resilience of local economies and expansion of opportunities for decent job creation.
Phala also noted that the 2015 Paris Agreement highlighted a just transition and decent work as essential elements to responses to climate change.
“This is as well as the guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all, as adopted by the ILO constituents to guide the transformation.
“It aims to enable ambitious climate action that delivers decent jobs and advances social justice; support countries on bold solutions for a transition towards a sustainable future.
“That is just for all and enjoys broad-based support and facilitate an inclusive and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis for building back better,’’she added.
She also noted that project was supported by the ILO Office, Abuja, with the French Government.
Also, Mr Emma Ugboaja, General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said that the Just Transition is the flagship contribution of the World of Work to the Climate Change discourse.
“The struggle for the mainstreaming of workers’ concerns and perspectives on the global climate change discourse did not come easy.
“We therefore, demand that the Nigerian Just Transition and Green Jobs Project must be built on Social Dialogue.
“The Nigerian Just Transition and Green Jobs Project must pay attention to Social Protection and also government should invest in research and innovation.
“Ultimately, our collective aspiration should be to engender an economy wide process that collaborates on plans, policies and investments that lead to a future where there is an abundance of green and decent jobs,’’he said. (
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The Fifth World Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, on May 20, 2022, closed with the adoption of the "Durban Call to Action" to tackle the scourge of child labour.
The conference was a collaboration between the Government of South Africa, the ILO, the social partners, international organizations and other stakeholders. It took years of hard work and dedication to get to this point.
This week she was concerned about the difficulties children face in workplaces where they should not be in the first place, often in difficult circumstances characterized by decent work deficits and dangerous conditions.
The different sessions and round tables deliberated on varied topics ranging from agriculture and climate change to education and global supply chains, focusing on how these elements contribute to child labour.
The role of children as benefactors of all efforts was valued. The Children's Session aimed to acknowledge children's voices on an issue that concerns them, along the lines of: "Nothing about us without us!"
Delegates discussed topics ranging from the prevalence of child labor in agriculture; the formalization of the informal economy and the creation of decent work; the need for additional resources and specific policies that address the root causes of child labour; the challenge of COVID-19 finally reversing years of progress in the fight against child labour; forced labor and child trafficking; supply chains and child labour.
Both in-person and online conference attendees adopted the document affirming their commitment to the prevention and elimination of child labour. These include representatives of governments, employers' and workers' organizations, United Nations agencies, international and civil society organizations, businesses, children and academic institutions.
Government representatives from the previous host countries (Norway, the Netherlands, Brazil and Argentina) took the floor to call for an enabling environment to end child labour.
South African Employment and Labor Minister Thulas Nxesi said the message has been clear: “unless governments pass the necessary legislation. Unless governments and businesses accept that we need structural change in the economy, child labor will not be eliminated. It should not be about profit, but also about people at the center. It will also be careless on our part not to recognize children's voices."
Nxesi said the challenge was how the conference consolidates the gains made to benefit the vulnerable, “so that we don't go backwards. How do we strengthen basic education, provide children with necessary transportation, provide one meal a day, and ensure that children have access to social protection?
“When we opened the Fifth World Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor on Sunday, May 15, 2022, we expected good responses locally and internationally. However, we are humbled by the scale of participation, the positive feedback, and the words of encouragement from everyone,” Nxesi said.
Presenting the six-point plan of the Durban Call to Action, Department of Employment and Labor Director General Thobile Lamati said the drafting committee had worked day and night to come up with a collective document.
He said that in doing its job, the drafting committee, having reviewed the input, decided that the 'Call to Action' should focus on:
Accelerate multi-stakeholder efforts to prevent and eliminate child labour, prioritizing the worst forms of child labour, making decent work a reality for adults and youth above the minimum working age and; End child labor in agriculture; Strengthen the prevention and elimination of child labour, including its worst forms, forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking and the protection of survivors through data-driven and survivor-informed policies and pragmatic responses; Realize children's right to education and ensure universal access to free, compulsory, quality, equitable and inclusive education and training; Achieve universal access to social protection; and Increase financing and international cooperation for the elimination of child labor and forced labor.The 5th World Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor follows Oslo, The Hague, Brasilia and Buenos Aires. The conference brought together ministers, national agencies, international and civil society organizations, businesses, children and academic institutions. The participants had met in Durban, South Africa, to discuss measures to prevent and eliminate child labor and forced labour.
“The Durban Call to Action commits the social partners and other stakeholders to accelerate efforts to eliminate child labor and the worst forms of work by promoting decent work; protect survivors; universalize access to education and social protection; and increase multi-stakeholder cooperation and funding to end child labor and forced labor,” concluded Nxesi.
This is a victory for South Africa and Africa as it is the first time the conference has been held on the continent. In true South African tradition, a choir sang a moving rendition of "Shosholoza" and chanted in support of the elimination of child labour.
“The outcome document is the key means of achieving the elimination of child labour,” said Martha Newton, ILO Deputy Director-General for Policy. “Following regional consultations around the world last year, a number of common thematic areas emerged, including education, social protection, and poverty and informality.”
The next common challenge of the group is to implement it.
The International Labor Organization and the South African government have been applauded for being excellent hosts of this international event.
Much has been discussed and now is the time to act. As many have said this week, it's time we lead by example!
Starting with this: all branded materials used at the conference will be recycled into school bags for local students affected by the flooding in Durban, South Africa.
The fifth and final day of side events and thematic panel sessions of the 5th International World Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor concluded on Thursday 19 May 2022 at the ICC in Durban, South Africa. The panel discussions were productive and valuable, paving the way for a commitment to end child labour. This was the first time the conference had been held on African soil, and history was made when children were included and given a voice at the conference for the first time. On May 20, 2022, the conference will conclude with the adoption of the Durban Call to Action and a closing ceremony.
The thematic panels of the day addressed issues such as child labor in agriculture and supply chains, overcoming vulnerabilities
Throughout the week, participants were able to interact both online and in person thanks to the hybrid conference. Also noteworthy is the area enabled for streaming Dreams of Gold through a virtual reality headset. Attendees were virtually teleported to a gold mine in Ghana, where they were able to experience and experience child labor for a few moments.
The most affected sector
Globally, 70% of children involved in child labor come from the agricultural sector. According to the latest Global Child Labor Estimates, during the period 2016-2020, an additional 4 million children were involved in child labour. The socio-economic consequences of COVID-19 on food security and agricultural livelihoods have pushed more children into child labor in agriculture. Without a breakthrough in this sector, target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goal will not be achieved.
Throughout the roundtable, global, regional, national and local experts provided insights on how to better position sustainable and resilient agri-food systems as a key factor in ending child labour.
“If programs are sensitive and target households at risk, if root causes are addressed and small farmer organizations are strengthened, if we engage in programs like school feeding, we can end child labor in agriculture,” said Bernd Seiffert, Focal Point for Children. I work in Agriculture at FAO.
She pointed to cross-cutting factors such as social protection, climate-smart practices and women's empowerment as key elements of an integrated approach in the sector.
Adding to that sentiment, Thoko Didiza, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development of South Africa, raised the importance of addressing the root causes of child labour. “Agriculture continues to be an important sector of our economy and cuts across several areas,” he said. "If you don't address poverty, conflict and war, you won't solve child labour."
He also called for spot checks to ensure that the laws are followed and advocates that the sectors work together to ensure that nothing escapes. It is easy to have laws in place, but it is imperative to make sure they are enforced.
It was mentioned that people need to speak out against child labour. Anonymous lines should be established where this can be reported.
Collaboration is needed to eliminate child labour. All ministers must line up and unite to #EndChilldLabour.
Address key vulnerabilities
Child labor is driven in part by specific vulnerabilities, such as poverty, risks and shocks. Without adequate access to finance, health services and social protection, children are more likely to engage in work and less likely to get an education.
In this session, panelists examined contextual, sociopolitical and economic factors, shedding light on the complex root causes that perpetuate the cycle of child labour.
“We have to take action, engage children and take a rights-based approach,” said Najat Maalla M'jid, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children.
“The most important thing we have done in Pakistan is stop normalizing child labour,” said Amna Shabbir. She spoke candidly about what her country has done to protect children from child labour: 2 international conventions, 40 legal frameworks and 20 departments that work exclusively for children's rights. Pakistan's world-class carpet weaving and soccer ball production industries are now 100% free of child labour, a powerful message of hope for other countries with high levels of child labour. It's possible.
Child labor free supply chains
Supply chains are complex and interconnected. The panelists discussed the structural factors that weaken them and make them vulnerable to child labor in the afternoon.
Claudine Ndusi M'Kembe, from the Ministry of Labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, discussed some of the steps her country has taken to address the root causes. Recently, world attention has focused on cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where 60 percent of the world's cobalt is mined. Unfortunately, child labor remains a major problem in small-scale artisanal mines. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is focusing on education in addition to strengthening laws, developing advocacy tools and mobilizing inspectors on the ground.
"We are working for a better future in particular for our girls," he said. "We are trying to improve social conditions in the country, so that parents understand the importance of sending children to school and not to mining."
This panel shed light on some of the complexities around child labor in supply chains, including shared responsibilities and the need for more coherent efforts and collective action among a variety of stakeholders.
According to Lilian Tschan, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour, Germany: “The G7 countries must send a clear signal that they support constructive solutions,” she said. “The foundations are laid. We can build on the internally accepted frameworks of the UN, ILO and OECD. That said, a more binding approach is needed.”
Raising the voice of children
This month is Africa Month, a time when the world turns to this innovative and solution-oriented continent to scale up initiatives for a better future. "It is fitting that the first world conference is being held in Africa, with the voices, views and talents of children." "It is essential that this is done at all future conferences involving children so that they can be heard," said South African Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour, Boitumelo Moloi.
South Africa will celebrate Child Protection Week from May 29 to June 5, 2022. National Child Protection Week is celebrated annually in the country to raise awareness of children's rights as articulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the Children's Law (Law No. 38 of 2005).
The children began the session with an original play that represented a real life situation that many children face today. During the panel discussion, the children mentioned that poverty is one of the main causes of child labour. Various children from all over the world shared their stories; some were forced to work as children due to poverty and unemployment of their parents. Others were born into working families. Amar Lal, a child labor survivor, was grateful to be able to study thanks to a scholarship. He is now a lawyer and fights for other children who were once in his place.
The call for governments to implement infrastructure and concrete solutions for poor families, so that children do not have to work, has been a recurring statement in many round tables.
Amar made a significant statement by saying, “As we sit in this conference, there are children working. We need to act now! The kids can't wait! They need their rights now."
Expand and join the conversation using the hashtag #EndChildLabour
Follow online: www.5thChildLabourConf.org
See the agenda for the next day: https://bit.ly/3wiez8H
The #EndChildLabour campaign took place at the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (ICC) in Durban, South Africa. The fourth day of the conference was packed with stimulating and enlightening discussions. This hybrid event, with sessions available both in person and online, has attracted nearly 13,000 viewers on the live stream and hundreds more in person since its inception. Attendees can participate in discussions in person and online by submitting questions online. The main message of the day was that actions must be reviewed to eliminate child labor faster and for the better. All discussions will contribute to advancing the Durban call to action.
Starting from the root causes
The fourth day began with thematic panels, one of which sought to connect civil society organizations. The panelists came from various organizations around the world and all say: 'We must eliminate child labour, starting with the root causes.'
Emmerance Tuyishime, Acting Executive Director of the Pan-African Farmers Organization, was born and raised in a farming family in Rwanda. She is familiar with the issue of child labor. In response to a question about the distinction between child labor and child labour, a common concern throughout the conference, she said, “Some people say that child labor prepares children for the future,” she said. “However, it is detrimental. Period. It disrupts children's ability to learn due to heavy work, both mentally and physically." The main cause of child labor is poverty, not culture, she said. Parents have no choice. "This is where farmer organizations and development agencies come in, to make sure they have the income to support their families." And the more eyes that are attentive to child labour, the better.
Willy Buloso, Regional Coordinator of ECPAT International, spoke about his experiences in monitoring child labor in the tourism industry. He advised that we need to establish a policy for all companies that work in travel and tourism. We must train staff on the subject and add a zero tolerance clause must be added to the contracts.
In the financial sector, development banks are often known for their initiatives against child labour. Agustina Pérez, Senior Associate for Children's Rights at the Banking Information Center, noted that private banks can also make a difference. “We push banks to do better,” she said both through advocacy and monitoring. We check where the banks are investing, what the risks are and if there are measures to prevent child labour.
Civil society and organizations left the meeting prepared to better align their messages, strengthen collaborations and improve engagement on the issue of child labor.
make connections
The panel discussion on the central role of social protection in the fight against child labor was led by Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Deputy Director General and Regional Director for Africa of the International Labor Organization (ILO). The report on Social Protection and Child Labor was launched by the ILO and UNICEF. Followed by a panel discussion with respected experts.
Mohamed Moustapha Malick Fall, UNICEF - Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa highlighted that, according to the joint report of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, social protection is a very effective policy. The report mentions the fact that we are at a critical crossroads: the number of children living in poverty is increasing. Some 1.5 billion children, ages 0-14, do not receive family or cash child benefits. This huge protection gap needs to be closed and closed quickly. Addressing social protection will help eliminate child labour. It has to be an all-sector approach.
See the report - https://bit.ly/3wrGOl4
Indeed, human rights have financial implications. Social protection is not about handouts, but about wealth creation and sustainable and inclusive growth, as summed up by panel moderator Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa at the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Global networks like Alliance 8.7 are making a difference, but they are not simple mechanisms. And they cannot function without the support of the Global North. Anousheh Karvar, president of Alliance 8.7, said that we need to connect with each other. Partners, civil society, governments, NGOs, everyone. We need to connect between people and countries, through supply chains.
Innovative solutions are needed, it can't be business as usual!
empowering youth
Thematic panels later in the day focused on decent work for youth, delving into ways we can better support 15-24 year olds in their transition to decent work. This is especially important for youth who have experienced hazardous employment or occupational health and safety risks.
“Young people may have skills that are not recognized or certified,” said Jacqueline Mugo, Executive Director and CEO of the Federation of Kenya Employers, General Secretary. It was also mentioned that it is necessary to validate the skills of young people. Governments must ensure that young people have skills that are relevant to the specific needs of their respective economies. Young people working in informal jobs and small businesses will need additional support and should not be left out of the conversation.
Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Director of the University of Johannesburg, mentioned the importance of digital skills in particular. She explained that the university recently created a computer literacy course that is also open to the general public, anyone who wants to take it. “With an unemployment rate of 37% in South Africa, due to deindustrialization, there is no middle ground,” she said. "We have to increase our level of competitiveness in the so-called data economy."
Focus on financing
How can we mobilize financial resources to make the generational investment needed to end child labour? This thematic panel explored this question and touched on topics from public spending to international trade.
Bobbi Gray, Director of Research at the Grameen Foundation, said one of the key lessons the foundation has learned is to communicate better to change the way financial service providers think about child labour. "It's such a big issue and it seemed outside the scope of her mandate," she said. “We really had to change the way we talk about it. We emphasized harmful work and we don't use the term child labor all the time."
The increasing limitation of democratic space, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining in times of crisis contribute to an increased risk of child labour. Children in child labor need strong lobbying. Workers' organizations, civil society organizations and the media that monitor their situation are essential in alerting authorities to child labor and related child rights violations.
Other experts mentioned that they strongly believe that more needs to be done to address child labor by being more effective in social dialogue and participation. They also strongly believe that universal social protection is a fundamental pillar for sustainable livelihoods and for #EndChildLabour.
The increasing limitation of democratic space, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining in times of crisis contribute to an increased risk of child labour. Children in child labor need strong lobbying. Workers' organizations, civil society organizations and the media that monitor their situation are essential in alerting authorities to child labor and related child rights violations.
According to the ILO, more than 160 million children worldwide are involved in child labour, with South Africa accounting for less than 600,000 of those affected. The ILO applauds South Africa's progress due to the country's investment in children through its social protection system. They state that South Africa's child protection systems are effective compared to other countries because children are enrolled in Early Childhood Development and Basic Education, and the investment in education and the strategy to provide food for children at school are praised. In terms of social assistance, South Africa has the most extensive child support program (grants). When it comes to educational outcomes, especially enrollment, children in this program outperform the national average.
Delegates believe that if we want to eliminate child labour, we must focus on social protection. South Africa is unique in that social protection is a right. South Africa receives the most funding in Africa, followed by Ethiopia.
The South African Constitution also provides for children to care for themselves in child-headed households. The South African government sends child and youth caregivers to these families so that the children can stay children. These child and youth caregivers visit these children to ensure that they have a father figure and remain children. In the case of orphans, children can be fostered, adopted or placed in a child and youth care center where they are cared for by the government so that they are not forced to become adults before their time.
In the fight against child labor, the government has been a leader. Child labor is a violation of children's rights. It also contributes to the perpetuation of a cycle of poverty and exclusion because poor and vulnerable children are more likely to drop out of school to work as child labourers.
It is everyone's responsibility to keep children safe. Child labor in any of its forms is unacceptable, and this is a call to all to be vigilant and report cases of child labor at all times. It is everyone's responsibility to care for the most vulnerable members of society, in particular children, because more needs to be done to prevent the neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation of children. To ensure all children thrive, communities must work together to make them safer and healthier.
For the first time in its history, the 5th World Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor will include a child participation session on May 19, 2022. This is in accordance with the South African Constitution as well as Article 12 of the Convention on Child Labor. the United Nations on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
The children's session of the conference will include an intergenerational dialogue in which children and politicians will discuss solutions to end child labour. Children from all five ILO regions will participate in the session both physically and virtually.
The conference will conclude on Friday 20 May 2022 with the adoption of a Durban Call to Action program.
Expand and join the conversation using the hashtag #EndChildLabour
Follow online: www.5thChildLabourConf.org
See the agenda for the next day: https://bit.ly/3wiez8H
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has linked the scourge of child labour to pervasive poverty in the African continent.
Ngige made the remark on Wednesday while addressing the International Labour Organisation (ILO) 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, holding in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa .
A statement signed by Mr Olajide Oshundun, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, made this known in Abuja.
He said that the current administration in Nigeria had adopted multi-pronged approach to fighting child labour through reduction in poverty index, in spite of teething challenges.
The minister, who co-chaired the day’s panel, said Nigeria faced numerous challenges in the fight against child labour but was doing everything possible to stem the social malaise.
According to him, the challenges in the fight to eradicate child labour include low revenue earnings due to fall in crude oil prices and production, over dependence on imported goods or items.
The minister listed others as low agricultural production and the consequential economic recession.
He attributed the worsening scenario in Nigeria to the COVID-19 pandemic which stagnated economic activities all over the world, pushing the country into a second economic recession in 2020.
“Even before the present administration, poverty had crept into Nigeria’s socio-economic firmament and accentuated child labour with many non-working age persons taking to farming and artisanal mining.
“Also, the educational curriculum not properly developed to give the right and proper skills in the secondary and tertiary institutions compounded matters.
“High rate of school dropouts among children also became a major issue and a catchment pool for Child Labour.
”Also, decent jobs for young persons gave way to informal, hazardous jobs, such as illegal refining of petroleum products which has claimed scores of lives with attendant pollution,” he said.
Ngige added that others were the poor working in heavy construction industry and ill-equipped persons handling dangerous chemicals in industries.
He however said that to reverse poverty which was at the root of child labour, the Federal Government had rolled out various measures including the diversification of the economy
.
According to him, this is through agriculture revolution-provision of fertilisers, grants to farmers, quick yields and agricultural extension.
He said the other measures were the stoppage of unnecessary importation of commodities such as rice, potato and beans and blockage of revenue leakages.
Ngige therefore said government was boosting Technical and Vocational Training Education, though the restructuring of the entire secondary and tertiary education curricular.
He explained that the government had introduced free education at primary and junior secondary level as well as school feeding programme to tackle low school enrolment.
“We equally have adhoc employment schemes, like the National Youth Service Corps scheme for all graduates of tertiary institutions under 30 years, N- POWER programme for one million unemployed persons.
”We also have social security programmes, like Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), survival funds and entrepreneurship loans. The establishment of Occupational and Safety Health Commission is in progress,”he said.
He added that though these efforts were yielding fruits, the Nigerian Government still needed technical support from the ILO.
The event was declared open by the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa.
(NAN)
Attendees arrived early at the Durban ICC to begin preparing for the enlightening day ahead. The day included nine side events and four thematic panels. Sessions covered a variety of topics from education, climate change and skills development, all in support of the elimination of child labour. A key element for the elimination of child labor that was the focus of the day was the tool of education.
Sessions throughout the day were rich and lively discussions from a wide variety of respected spokespersons from government and private sectors. All the speakers referred to the deepening of child labor due to poverty.
Eleni Georgiopoulou, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Aldi, spoke about business approaches and actions in response to child labor in times of crisis. In support of the elimination of child labor, Aldi has posted a child labor policy on its website. Employees are constantly informed about this topic in question. Aldi has also established guidelines for suppliers so they can adopt the same practices to eliminate child labor.
According to UNICEF, 1.6 billion students have been affected by COVID-related school closures. 92 million children in Africa are involved in child labour.
“Those of you who have children, imagine a 5-year-old child working,” said Cornelius Williams, UNICEF Child Protection Programs Group Director, speaking during the panel on education and presenting the latest global estimates on child labour. Child labor in this age category has increased in recent years. He pointed to the reality of children working in the agricultural sector often out of necessity.
Several experts in the field of education struck up a conversation pointing out that education is the most powerful tool to eliminate child labour. Challenges were raised such as lack of infrastructure, financial constraints, and the fact that there are not enough educational institutions in many African countries to accommodate the population.
Solutions and current infrastructure were also discussed by all. Countries like Niger, South Africa and Ethiopia have implemented feeding schemes to encourage children to attend school and not have to worry about their next meal.
Kwazi Mshengu, MEC Education, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, stated that there is free education, free sanitary pads for girls, free transportation and meals for disadvantaged children.
Raising awareness is not enough, community members must mobilize at the grassroots level and work together with trade unions to create safe environments for all children where child labor is eliminated. Respected leaders feel strongly that governments must work hard to make education truly free, and this must be funded by taxes. Governments must invest in education and teachers and bridge the gap between policy and practice. Respected leaders ask for the support of the international community, as it is time we lead by example. Children need to be at the center and they need to be protected and valued.
In sessions on peacekeeping and climate resilience, panelists also called for serious reflection and action, as conflict, disaster and fragility have devastating effects on children's lives. “Extreme weather events are a new topic that we need to put on our agenda,” said Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. “These events destroy infrastructure and livelihoods”, thus impacting poverty and child labor.
In a special session organized by the African Union, Amongi Betty Ongom, Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development of Uganda, noted that Africa remains the most affected country in the world and that COVID-19 has worsened child labor on the continent. . She again mentioned the importance of education being a key tool to eliminate child labor.
Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Deputy Director General and Regional Director for Africa of the International Labor Organization (ILO) pledged that the ILO will support the implementation of the Durban call to action and all other actions on the elimination of child labour. “We can do it, we will do it”
Expand and join the conversation using the hashtag #EndChildLabour
Follow online: www.5thChildLabourConf.org
See the agenda for the next day: https://bit.ly/3wiez8H
