New Irish coalition targets global child labour
11 Jun 2007
Ireland must become a donor to the ILO's International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour according to a new task force launched in Ireland today, the World Day Against Child Labour.
Speaking at the launch of the Irish Task Force Against Child Labour (ITACL) David Joyce, Education Officer of the Irish Congress Of Trade Unions (ICTU) and founder member of the task force, said: "As part of a globalised world, people need to know what is happening in different countries and what they can do about it. We need to be more aware of supply chain issues and ethical trade. But, more than that, we need to help our government to make the right choices in targeting its aid programmes. Part of this approach should also include Ireland becoming a donor to the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour."
According to the ITACL, an estimated one in seven of the world's children is involved in child labour and each year on 12 June people are asked to remember that there are approximately218 million child labourers around the world. This year the theme for the world day is agriculture. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), over 132 million girls and boys aged 5 to 14 are working in the agricultural sector.
"We are not talking about work which children do to help out on a farm or at home when not in school or at weekends. We are talking about work which affects their development and growing up in the sort of childhood environment we would want for our children in Ireland," said Michael Doorly of Concern. "Children who work on farms or in fields all day are denied their right to full-time education. Girls are at a particular disadvantage as they often have to do household chores following their work in the fields. Moreover, agriculture is an incredibly dangerous sector in terms of work-related accidents and fatalities. Children work unprotected in all weathers, use dangerous tools and equipment, are exposed to harmful chemicals and lift weights beyond their physical capabilities."
"Children work because of issues relating to poverty, tradition and culture and each of these issues must be addressed in an integrated and holistic manner if child labour is to be eliminated. Child labour cuts across a range of development and human rights issues and needs a similar range of programmes to support its elimination and future prevention. Children need to be in school and not in the work place," says Joyce.
"Ignorance is no longer an excuse for any of us," adds Doorly. "The responsibility to help these children is one we all share. What we want to do through our new partnership is to encourage Irish Aid, NGOs, trade unions and employers to adopt a more coherent and strategic approach to development and human rights. Tackling child labour effectively does not necessarily mean spending more money - it also means being smarter and more focused in spending what is already available."
For further information, contact:
David Joyce, e-mail: david.joyce@ictu.ie, tel: 01 8897748/087 2260213
Michael Doorly, e-mail: michael.doorly@concern.net, tel: 01 417 7785/087 9555979
Lizzy Noone, e-mail: lizzy.noone@concern.net, tel: 01 417 7740/086 8720879
The Irish Task Force Against Child Labour includes: Action Aid Ireland, ACLAIM, Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI), Christian Aid, Concern, Creative Connections, Gorta, Hope Foundation, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), Nua Consulting, Plan International, Poetry Ireland, Sightsavers, Skillshare, Sports Against Racism Ireland and the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI)