Trade unions launch MPs signature campaign to push for ratification of key child labour conventions

Chennai:

In a bid to eradicate child labour, Tamil Nadu Trade Unions- Joint Action Forum has launched a signature campaign seeking the support of state MPs to push for the ratification of key Child Labour conventions in parliament.

Addressing a press conference to mark the World Day against Child Labour, union members of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, All India Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Labour Progressive Front and Indian National Trade Union Congress stressed on the need to ratify International Labour Organisation convention 182, Convention 87, Convention 98 and convention 138.

Interestingly, the stress was more on to ratify Convention 138, which requires the state to specify in law a minimum age for admission to employment not less than the age of finishing compulsory education which is 15 years, and Convention 182, which callas for immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition of worst forms of child labour.

The signature campaign is part of Norwegian funded International Labour Organisation and ACTRAV project ‘Trade Unions for Social Justice.’

 S S Thyagarajan, vice-president of AITUC said the unions have been successful in seeking the backing of 23 MPs from the state to push for the ratification of the convention in parliament and efforts are on to rope in other MPs also.

Susamma Varghese, national programme manager of the project, said ILO wants to achieve the target of eradicating child labour by 2016 and that is it has roped in the trade unions. She said the joint action force is also initiating joint activities with the Employers Organisations (EFSI) to address issues related to hazardous child labour through a process of social dialogue.

Currently, many of the children are being employed by small and tiny industries. Union members said they have identified certain areas in the city where child labour is being practiced. These include Mdhavaram, Vyasarpadi, Sowcarpet, ambattur, Kanchipur, Thiruvallur and Sriperumbudur.