Durban hosts global conference to end child labour

THE fifth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour was hosted in Durban this week from May 15–20 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala said high levels of unemployment impact children as does a lack of nutrition and access to education.

“In this regard, KwaZulu-Natal province and the country have extended, not only social protection but also grants that are meant to ensure children are protected and supported. We are also mindful of the fact that the economic meltdown that has affected the country and our province impacts children. We know the high level of unemployment contributes to the worsening conditions that face children. We continue to ensure that we create more jobs and intervene to cushion vulnerable families so families will also benefit,” he said.

The premier cited Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, saying, he summed it up when he said, ‘child labour perpetuates poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, population growth, and other social problems.’

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International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director General, Guy Ryder, said this is the first time the conference was held in Africa. It is also the last conference held before the 2025 deadline for the elimination of child labour which has been set under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Ryder said, “Child labour has actually increased for the first time since we started measuring it 20 years ago. Today, there are 160-million children in child labour, half of them in work that puts their health, safety and moral development at risk; 89 million are very young – 5–11 years, and child labour is rising, particularly in this age group. Covid-19 has made the situation more difficult still.”

Ryder called for delegates to find the resources and vision needed to regain momentum toward the common goal.

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“Some may say that child labour is an inevitable consequence of poverty, and we have to accept that. But that is wrong. We can never resign ourselves to child labour. We do not have to. Tackling the root causes, such as household poverty, is essential. But make no mistake, child labour is a violation of a basic human right, and our goal must be that every child everywhere is free from it. We cannot rest until that happens,” he said.

The fifth Global Conference is held to assess progress made towards eradicating child labour, discuss good practices implemented by the different actors around the world and to identify gaps and urgent measures needed to accelerate the elimination of both child labour and forced labour.