Kathmandu: In an effort to combat the problem of child labour, the major trade union confederations and teacher’s associations have reached an agreement to join hands for partnership in combating child labour.
The two-day workshop participated in by the representatives from trade unions, teacher’s associations, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLT) and Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) reached upon a consensus to accord immediate action against the worst forms of child labour by initiating joint action against it, an ILo press release said.
The participants also called for a consolidated effort between the organisations as an effort to prevent children from entering the labour market.
The teacher’s association and trade union confederations have agreed to take strong opposition to socio-economic policies that cause child labour and pressurisation for alternative socio-economic policies efective to fight against child labour and the human deprivation at the grassroots.
They have also decided to approach and urge the government to ratify the ILO Convention No 182 and form a special child unit in all relevant ministries whose policies and programmes contribute for the elimination of child labour.
Earlier, Geir Mynstad, Senior Programme Officer at ILO/TPEC, Geneva stressed on the need to involve teacher’s organisations in the fight against child labour. He said that the two-trade unions and teacher’s associations-along with other partners must go hand-in-hand to strengthen social dialogue and ensure social justice.
Yadav Amatya, National Programme Manager, ILO/TPEC said that concerted efforts of the two organisations can give an effective impact to the total programme for the elimination of child labour.
The workshop was participated by three trade unions-General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Unions (DECONT) – and two teacher’s associations-Nepal Teacher’s Association (NTA) and Nepal National Teacher’s Association (NNTA). The workshop also endorsed the “Common Understanding, Policies and Strategies against Child Labour among Trade Union Organisations” reached by the three trade unions in July 2000.
The workers’s organisations had agreed to take joint initiatives for prevention, rescue and rehabilitation measures and development of code of conduct for workers and their respective unions. It had also decided to include the issue of child labour in collective bargaining agreements and in worker’s education programmes.