europe3

EU Child Labour is Cheap Labour
Under age workers not just a problem for developing world.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has adopted a resolution on the issue
of child labour in Europe. It highlights the causes and forms of child labour in Europe and
outlines a number of strategies for action.
In particular, the resolution recommends the negotiation of a ban on child labour in Europe
between ETUC and the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe
(UNICE).
According to ETUC, the aim of the resolution is to highlight the fact that child labour is an
issue that is pertinent in Europe, as well as in the developing world. The resolution states:
"One of the greatest misconceptions surrounding child labour today is that it is a
phenomenon confined to the developing world. The fact is that it exists not only in the
developing world but also here on our doorsteps, in Europe."
The resolution states that a variety of factors contribute to the existence of child labour,
including poverty and "consumerism."
The resolution highlights as some of the worst forms of child labour commercial sexual
exploitation of children, sexual and physical abuse of child sex workers, and the
employment of children under hazardous conditions.
It also states that in central and eastern European countries, the transition to a market
economy, increasing poverty and the restructuring of welfare systems have made the
economic exploitation of children more likely. The resolution also comments that children
often, successfully and unsuccessfully, combine school and work as a result of increased
consumerism.
The ETUC believes that it has a clear responsibility to fight for the rights of children who
are in employment: "For years, trade unions across Europe have been to the forefront of
the struggle to stop child labour. While undoubtedly great success has been achieved in
many countries, too many children in Europe are still denied their rights. In the new
millennium, the ETUC must renew and intensify its activities in the fight against child labour."
Collecting information and data
The ETUC resolution highlights the need for more information and reliable data on child
labour issues and states that there is a "compelling need for further research" on child
labour and a need for "strengthened political commitment" to eradicate the problem.
The ETUC recommends that social partners in the member States define the priority issues
and identify key problems for action in the area of child labour in each country.
The resolution also calls on the European Commission, the European Parliament and the
other European institutions, in tandem with the ILO and the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), to focus more on the issue of child labour
in Europe.
Implementing existing measures
The resolution also calls for the proper implementation and enforcement of existing
legislation on child labour. The ETUC is, therefore, demanding:

ratification and full implementation of ILO Convention No. 138 on the minimum age for
access to employment;
ratification and full implementation of ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child
labour within the shortest possible time-frame. (The ETUC wants all countries across
Europe to ratify this Convention and adopt measures at national level, including increased
workplace inspections, harsh sentences for exploiters of child labour and access to
education for children;
full implementation and transposition of the 1994 EU Directive on the protection of young
people at work; and
full implementation of the Council of Europe's revised 1996 European Social Charter.
Social inclusion strategy
The resolution contends that the persistence of child labour and low levels of participation
in education can be explained by the fact that children are forced to work because of family
poverty. According to ETUC, children can contribute as much as 20%-25% of the family
income.
The ETUC has, therefore, called for the European strategy on social inclusion specifically
to support young people and children. The social inclusion programme is part of the social
policy agenda which was adopted by the Employment and Social Affairs Council of
Ministers in November 2000. The aim of the strategy is to prevent and eradicate poverty
and exclusion and to promote the integration and participation of all people in economic
and social life.
Promoting education
The ETUC also believes that education is a key solution to eliminate child labour and that
access to a proper education could bring about a decline in the extent of child labour. It
contends that education systems that combine schooling with vocational training would help
young people gain the opportunity to acquire economically useful skills.
Further, the ETUC believes that the problems of absenteeism in schools can be tackled by
promoting stronger links between labour inspectorates and schools. In addition, it is calling
for special attention to be paid to the needs of poor and marginalised children, including
recent immigrants, in order to help such children achieve their full potential within the
education system.
Trade union action
In the resolution, ETUC has called on its affiliated organisations to:

€ press for an agreement between ETUC and the Union of Industrial and Employers'
Confederations of Europe (UNICE), banning the use of child labour in Europe;
include clauses prohibiting child labour in collective agreements and organise so-called
"name and shame" publicity campaigns against companies which use child labour;
highlight the paradox between youth unemployment and school children in employment and
seek to replace each child labourer with an unemployed adult;
recruit as members all young people who are working legally within the terms of the
relevant ILO Conventions and the 1994 EU Directive on the protection of young people at
work. ETUC wants young people who are engaged in the worst forms of child labour to be
moved out of damaging work and into appropriate education or training or, depending on
their age, into non-harmful work;
recognise the role of trade unions in organising and informing people, including young
people, of their rights; and
insist that the scope of action for labour inspectors across Europe is strengthened and
better resourced.