Programme Towards the Elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour
Encyclopedia
The programme Towards the Elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour (TECL) is a programme on child labour and related issues that is run in all the countries of the Southern African Customs Union
(SACU), namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa
and
Swaziland.
Funding for the TECL programme was sourced by the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
(IPEC) of the International Labour Organization
(ILO), from the US Department of Labor
. The first phase of the programme (referred to as TECL I) ran from 2004 to June 2008. The second phase (TECL II) started in March 2009 and run for three years.
the TECL I was essentially an executing agency for key elements of the national Child Labour Programme of Action
, as partner to relevant government Departments, and in collaboration with organised employers, organised labour and NGOs.
TECL II involves more limited programme activities with a limited set of government departments and other stakeholder.
The pilot projects address the following three issues or groups of issues, one of which is addressed in this report:
The implementation of these pilot projects commenced in late 2005, and they were all concluded in 2007 or 2008.
Researching child labour in commercial agriculture
) all have cases of child labour, although the nature and incidence differ between the countries. See in this regard:
All these countries have ratified the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999
, which identifies worst forms of child labour, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children
, forced labour, children used by adults in the commission of crime
, child trafficking and other forms of very hazardous work. The Convention requires of states that ratify the convention to take immediate ‘time-bound measures’ to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.
The countries have some policies and programmes in place to help eliminate child labour, but none of them as yet have comprehensive strategies to address these issues specifically.
In 2006-2008 the BLNS countries plan to put in place national Action Programmes on the Elimination of Child Labour
(APECs).
The process is expected to involve extensive consultation with stakeholders at national level and also in the regions or districts, and is described in more detail below. It is led by the various Ministries responsible for labour and is assisted by the programme Towards the Elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour (TECL).
Programme Advisory Committees on Child Labour, representing government departments, organised labour and business, and civil society guide the development and implementation of the programme.
Surveys on child labour have been conducted in Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia. However, the latest survey data is not yet available for analysis. The information gathered though these surveys will also indicate the extent and nature of work-related activities by children in these countries.
After having obtained input on suggested actions that should be taken, these proposals will be negotiated directly with the suggested implementing department. The aim will be to draw up a list of actions that will be taken, which implementing agencies have agreed to.
(APEC) in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. Although endorsed by national forums of stakeholders, including representatives of key government ministries, these programmes are expected to be tabled at cabinet level during 2008.
Adoption of the Lesotho APEC is also expected during 2008. Implementation of the action programmes will follow their adoption.
Southern African Customs Union
The Southern African Customs Union is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.-History:SACU is the oldest still existing customs union in the world...
(SACU), namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa
Child Labour Programme of Action (South Africa)
The Child Labour Programme of Action is the national plan on elimination of child labour in South Africa. It was provisionally adopted by a large group of key stakeholders in September 2003...
and
Swaziland.
Funding for the TECL programme was sourced by the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour is a programme that the International Labour Organization has run since 1992...
(IPEC) of the International Labour Organization
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...
(ILO), from the US Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
. The first phase of the programme (referred to as TECL I) ran from 2004 to June 2008. The second phase (TECL II) started in March 2009 and run for three years.
South Africa
In South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
the TECL I was essentially an executing agency for key elements of the national Child Labour Programme of Action
Child Labour Programme of Action (South Africa)
The Child Labour Programme of Action is the national plan on elimination of child labour in South Africa. It was provisionally adopted by a large group of key stakeholders in September 2003...
, as partner to relevant government Departments, and in collaboration with organised employers, organised labour and NGOs.
TECL II involves more limited programme activities with a limited set of government departments and other stakeholder.
Pilot projects
Key projects of TECL I in South Africa were four sets of pilot projects aimed at addressing work-related activities of children that are likely to affect their development detrimentally.The pilot projects address the following three issues or groups of issues, one of which is addressed in this report:
- Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), Child trafficking and educational rehabilitation of children found in Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL).
- Children Used By Adults in the Commission of crimePilot Project on Children used by adults in the commission of crimeThe South African Child Labour Programme of Action has identified Children used by adults in the commission of crime , one of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, as a priority area for action on child labour in South Africa....
(CUBAC). - Delivery of water to households far from sources of safe waterPilot project on Delivery of water to households far from sources of safe waterThe South African Child Labour Programme of Action provides that pilot projects should be run on the Delivery of water to households far from sources of safe water. The Survey of Activities of Young People undertaken in 1999 indicated that collecting fuel or fetching water are by far the most...
. By delivering water to such households, the extremely long periods spent by some children in collecting water could be reduced, thereby making more time available for schooling and other activities. It should also reduce the hazards they are exposed to.
The implementation of these pilot projects commenced in late 2005, and they were all concluded in 2007 or 2008.
Other projects
Education policy and child labourEducation policy and child labour (South Africa)
The education policy and child labour project is a project that forms part of the implementation of the Child Labour Programme of Action for South Africa.The purpose of the project is to identify, design and implement educational interventions...
Researching child labour in commercial agriculture
BLNS Countries: Formulating Action Programmes on the Elimination of Child labour
Recent studies have shown that Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (referred to as the BLNS CountriesBLNS Countries
The term is used to describe Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland collectively....
) all have cases of child labour, although the nature and incidence differ between the countries. See in this regard:
- Child labour in BotswanaChild labour in BotswanaLittle is known about the nature and extent of child labour in Botswana, although recent studies have shown that the phenomenon does occur in the country....
- Child labour in LesothoChild labour in LesothoSignificant levels of child labour appears to be found in Lesotho. The 1997 Lesotho Labour Force Survey found that 4.6% of males who were working full-time, 14.1% of males who were working part-time and 1.3% of male job seekers in Lesotho were aged between 10 and 15 years...
- Child labour in NamibiaChild labour in NamibiaChild labour in Namibia has occasionally been reported. This involved cases of child prostitution as well as voluntary and forced agricultural labour, cattle herding and vending....
- Child labour in SwazilandChild labour in SwazilandSwaziland ratified both the ILO Minimum Age Convention and the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention in 2002. In addition, the country also ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995...
.
All these countries have ratified the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999
The Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, known in short as the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, was adopted by the International Labour Organization in 1999 as ILO Convention No 182. It is one of 8 ILO fundamental...
, which identifies worst forms of child labour, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children
Commercial sexual exploitation of children
Commercial sexual exploitation of children constitutes a form of coercion and violence against children and amounts to forced labour and a contemporary form of slavery....
, forced labour, children used by adults in the commission of crime
Children used by adults in the commission of crime
The use, procuring or offering of a child by others for illegal activities, including the trafficking or production of drugs, is one of the predefined worst forms of child labour in terms of the International Labour Organisation's Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, adopted in 1999.It is also...
, child trafficking and other forms of very hazardous work. The Convention requires of states that ratify the convention to take immediate ‘time-bound measures’ to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.
The countries have some policies and programmes in place to help eliminate child labour, but none of them as yet have comprehensive strategies to address these issues specifically.
In 2006-2008 the BLNS countries plan to put in place national Action Programmes on the Elimination of Child Labour
Action Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
A National Action Plan on the elimination of child labour is a national strategy, plan or programme aimed at addressing child labour within a given country, usually with an emphasis on worst forms of child labour....
(APECs).
The process is expected to involve extensive consultation with stakeholders at national level and also in the regions or districts, and is described in more detail below. It is led by the various Ministries responsible for labour and is assisted by the programme Towards the Elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour (TECL).
Programme Advisory Committees on Child Labour, representing government departments, organised labour and business, and civil society guide the development and implementation of the programme.
Learning more about child labour
The first phase of the programme in each country involves the gathering of more information on worst forms of child labour in these countries. Rapid assessments are being done into child trafficking in all these countries, and one or more of them are also researching commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), children used by adults to commit crime, extreme cases of herding of livestock, and use of children in the production of charcoal. The rapid assessment into CSEC includes studying children engaging in sex in return for food or other key needs, and forced child marriages. The results of these studies will be available shortly.Surveys on child labour have been conducted in Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia. However, the latest survey data is not yet available for analysis. The information gathered though these surveys will also indicate the extent and nature of work-related activities by children in these countries.
Analysing existing policies
The second phase of the programme will involve the publication of a discussion document on child labour in these countries. It will consolidate information available on child labour in these countries and include an analysis of existing policy and identification of any possible policy gaps.Consulting stakeholders
The discussion document will form the basis of a detailed consultation process, the third phase of the programme. This will be on what action steps should be put in place in a concerted effort to eliminate child labour, focusing on worst forms of child labour.After having obtained input on suggested actions that should be taken, these proposals will be negotiated directly with the suggested implementing department. The aim will be to draw up a list of actions that will be taken, which implementing agencies have agreed to.
Adopting APECs
All these activities culminated in early 2008 in the national endorsement of Action Programmes on the Elimination of Child LabourAction Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
A National Action Plan on the elimination of child labour is a national strategy, plan or programme aimed at addressing child labour within a given country, usually with an emphasis on worst forms of child labour....
(APEC) in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. Although endorsed by national forums of stakeholders, including representatives of key government ministries, these programmes are expected to be tabled at cabinet level during 2008.
Adoption of the Lesotho APEC is also expected during 2008. Implementation of the action programmes will follow their adoption.
See also
- International Labour OrganizationInternational Labour OrganizationThe International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...
- Commercial sexual exploitation of childrenCommercial sexual exploitation of childrenCommercial sexual exploitation of children constitutes a form of coercion and violence against children and amounts to forced labour and a contemporary form of slavery....
- RECLISA
- International Organization for Migration