International Labour Standards

Why in news?

In the International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) 101-year history for the first time, a labour standard has been universally ratified.

What does this mean?

This historic moment was made when the Kingdom of Tonga decided to outlaw the worst forms of child labour (Convention 182).
Convention 182 was adopted in international labour conference, 1999.
It prohibits the sexual exploitation of children, trafficking, deployment in armed conflict and other conditions that compromise their overall well-being.
It complements the ILO’s efforts under the Minimum Age Convention 138 of the year 1973.

When did India ratify?

In 2017, India ratified the Convention 182 and Convention 138.
This move has signalled its legal commitment to the elimination of child labour.

What is the influence of these ILO conventions?

Under the influence of both these ILO standards, millions of young children have been rescued from hazardous conditions of work.
In turn, these have resulted in significant increases in enrolments in primary education.
However, the landmark ratification does not detract from the enormity of the challenge that remains.

What are the challenges?

An estimated 152 million are trapped in child labour and 72 million of them are engaged in hazardous work.
The current efforts would have to be stepped up significantly to achieve the goal of total abolition of the scourge of child labour by 2025.
But the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening a reversal of recent gains.
There are widespread job losses, deterioration in conditions of work, decline in household incomes and temporary school closures.

What are these Conventions part of?

The two instruments on child labour are among the eight core ILO Conventions.
These eight conventions are regarded as embodying the spirit of the 1998 declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work.
Instruments relating to the freedom of association and the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation are among the others.
They provide the framework to counteract the predominance of informality in the conditions of work.
They should be a priority for governments.

What could be done?

The world prepares to designate 2021 as the year to abolish child labour.
So, the governments must seize the moment to instil hope in the future generations.

Source: The Hindu

Quick Facts

International Labour Organization

The ILO was created in 1919 by the Versailles Peace Treaty.
After the demise of the League of Nations, it became the first specialized agency associated with the UN.
Its secretariat is in Geneva, Switzerland.
It has 187 of the 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands.
It is responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards.
It has a tripartite governing structure – representing governments, employers, and workers.
It publishes Global Wage report.

Eight Core Conventions of the ILO