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GB.276/STM/3
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Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and Related Issues |
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THIRD ITEM ON THE AGENDA
Report of the Meeting of Experts on Labour
Inspection and Child Labour
(Geneva, 27 September-1 October 1999)
1. The Meeting of Experts on Labour Inspection and Child Labour was held in Geneva from 27 September to 1 October 1999, chaired by Mr. András Békés (Government, Hungary).
2. The Meeting had before it a report entitled Labour inspection and child labour, prepared by the International Labour Office.
3. The Meeting unanimously adopted a report on its discussions, and recommendations for future national and international action, calling for certain action by member States and by the Office (appended to the present document in the Note on the proceedings).
4. The recommendations call on governments to ensure a political environment and policy framework that underscores the importance of abolishing child labour by observing the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up, 1998; by ratifying ILO Conventions on labour inspection and on child labour; by establishing a comprehensive national policy on labour inspection that includes addressing child labour; by establishing clear bodies of legislation on chid labour and labour inspection; and by allocating adequate resources for labour inspection systems, as well as for rehabilitation and social integration services for children removed from child labour. The recommendations include several proposals aimed at strengthening labour inspection systems and the role of labour inspectors in general, and particularly to enhance their ability to address child labour, especially the worst forms of child labour and in the informal sector. The recommendations also point to the importance of cooperation and coordination at all levels to combat child labour, particularly its worst forms.
5. In order to give effect to the principles and rights contained in the Declaration, the Office is called on to promote the ratification and application of ILO Conventions on labour inspection and child labour and acceptance of their accompanying Recommendations; to support the activities of member States to eliminate child labour through its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC); to continue to support member States' labour administration; to support inter-agency cooperation for enforcement and follow-up and enhance interdepartmental cooperation in the ILO both at headquarters and in the field; to provide technical assistance to Members' labour inspectorates to combat child labour, including training; to continue to implement sector-wide programmes that include monitoring of the child labour situation and working with rehabilitation programmes; and to further its work in developing cooperation in the United Nations system and with multilateral agencies, taking into account the need for international policies that support the effective elimination of child labour and the strengthening of labour inspectorates.
6. The Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and Related Issues may wish to recommend that the Governing Body authorize the Director-General to communicate the Note on the Proceedings containing the texts mentioned in paragraph 3 above:
(a) to governments, requesting them to communicate these texts to the employers' and workers' organizations concerned;
(b) to the international employers' and workers' organizations concerned;
(c) to the international organizations concerned.
7. The Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and Related Issues may wish to recommend that the Governing Body request the Director-General to bear in mind, when drawing up proposals for the future programme of work of the Office, the wishes expressed by the Meeting in paragraphs 1 to 7 of the recommendations.
Geneva, 27 October 1999.
Points for decision:
Paragraph 6;
Paragraph 7.
Appendix