International Labour Organisation The ILO formulates international labour

International Labour Organisation

The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organise, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment and other standards addressing conditions across the entire spectrum of work-related issues

The ILO's diverse tasks are grouped under four strategic objectives

The four strategic objectives n n Promote and realise standards and fundamental principles and rights at work Create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue

The ILO accomplishes its work through three main bodies, all of which comprise government, employer and worker representatives.

n The ILO and its partners stand for a world where no girl or boy is forced to work at the expense of their health and development or their future prospects of decent work. A future without child labour is at last within reach.

n Significant progress is being made worldwide in combating child labour. The new global estimates of trends reinforce this message of hope. However, a strong and sustained global movement is needed to provide the extra push towards eliminating the scourge of child labour

Defining child labour n The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

It refers to work that: n is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and interferes with their schooling by: n depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; n obliging them to leave school prematurely; or n requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

Action against child labour International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) aim is the progressive elimination of child labour worldwide, with the eradication of the worst forms an urgent priority.

n IPEC works to build the capacities of labour inspectorates and other enforcement agencies to take action against child labour, especially in respect of hazardous child labour and child labour monitoring.

Since it began operations in 1992, IPEC has worked to achieve concrete measures to end child labour; and through awareness raising and mobilisation intended to change social attitudes and promote ratification and effective implementation of ILO child labour Conventions.

These efforts have resulted in hundreds of thousands of children being withdrawn from work and rehabilitated or prevented from entering the workforce. Complementary to this direct action throughout has been substantial in-depth statistical and qualitative research, policy and legal analysis, program evaluation and child labour monitoring

Child labour monitoring (CLM) CLM is the active process involves the identification, referral, protection and prevention of child labourers through the development of a coordinated multi-sector monitoring and referral process that aims to cover all children living in a given geographical area.