ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor takes effect Nov. 19
The global campaign against the worst forms of child labor receives a big boost on Nov. 19, the date when the International Labor Organization's (ILO) Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor takes effect as international law. The United States was one of the first three countries to ratify Convention 182 when President Clinton signed the ratification document on Dec. 2, 1999.
On that date, the 44 of the 175 countries belonging to the ILO that have signed the convention must take immediate and effective action to prohibit and eliminate these forms of child labor.
The ILO estimates that some 250 million children aged 5-14 are victims of child labor around the world, half of them working full time. Of these, it estimates, more than 80 million are caught in the worst forms. Convention 182 defines the worst forms of child labor as slavery, debt bondage, prostitution, pornography, forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, use of children in drug trafficking and other illicit activities, and all other work harmful or hazardous to the health, safety, or morals of girls and boys under 18 years of age.
ILO members that have not yet ratified Convention 182 must, without being bound by each and every one of its provisions, gear their policies towards the effective abolition of child labor. All members of the ILO will also be legally bound to report annually to the organization on their promotional efforts regarding the worst forms of child labor, as well as child labor in general as defined under the ILO's Convention on Minimum Age (No. 138).
Convention 182 was adopted unanimously by the International Labor Conference on June 17, 1999. The effective date of Nov. 19 is a result of a provision that it would take effect 12 months after the date of the second ratification, which occurred on Nov. 19, 1999, when Malawi ratified the convention.
Edited by Sandy Smith
Managing Editor, Safety Online
E-mail: ssmith@verticalnet.com