India approves two ILO conventions on child labour

"It is a historic moment for India as we are going to take another giant step to affirm our commitment for a child labour free India by ratifying the two core conventions of ILO conventions 138 regarding admission of age to employment and convention 182 regarding worst forms of child labour," said minister of state for labour and employment Bandaru Dattatreya at the sideline event held in Geneva at the international labour conference.

The approval of both conventions coincided with the World Day against Child Labour expressing India’s commitment along with global partners to fight the menace of child labour and providing the childhood back to them. According to the Members of European Parliament, textile workers around the world, many of whom are young women and children industry face exploitations such as long working hours, low wages, uncertainty, violence and hazardous conditions.

Ratification of these 2 core conventions by India has not only national but international ramifications for eradication of child labour as it means that almost all children (99 per cent) in the world are covered by convention 182, while coverage of convention 138 enhanced from approximately 60 per cent to almost 80 per cent of the world’s children population.

India is the 170^th ILO member state to ratify convention 138, which requires states to set a minimum age under which no one shall be admitted to employment or work in any occupation, except for light work and artistic performances.

Similarly, for convention 182, India is the 181^st member state to ratify and reaffirm its commitment for the prohibition and elimination of worst forms of child labour, including slavery, forced labour and trafficking; the use of children in armed conflict; use of children for prostitution, pornography and in illicit activities (such as drug trafficking); and hazardous work. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India