ILO to Help Farmers Eliminate Child Labour and Forced Work in Cotton Fields

ILO to Help Farmers Eliminate Child Labour and Forced Work in Cotton Fields

Sub: IR

Sec: Int organisation

• Background:
  • Cotton and hybrid cotton seeds from India are still on the United States Labour Department’s “List of Goods Produced by Child Labour or Forced Labour”.
• Partnership:
  • The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has partnered with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to support farm workers and small and medium farmers involved in cotton cultivation.
• Joint Project – Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW):
• The project aims to:
  • Promote effective recognition of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
  • Eliminate child labour and forced labour.
  • Eliminate all forms of discrimination.
  • Promote a safe and healthy working environment in the cotton-growing community in India.
• Target Audience: Expected to reach out to 65 lakh cotton farmers in 11 States.
• ILO’s Commitment:
• ILO emphasized:
  • The importance of addressing issues at the grassroots level through a productive approach.
  • ILO’s agenda to promote freedom, equity, and dignity, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of decent work.
  • The ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Convention applies to all member states, irrespective of ratification, as it is integral to the ILO’s Constitution.
• CITI’s Role:
• CITI highlighted:
  • Leveraging CITI’s existing farmer connections and network.
  • Collaboration with government bodies, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and civil society groups to empower cotton-growing communities.
  • The goal to uphold the FPRW and foster a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous environment for all workers.
• Additional Objectives:
  • The project also seeks to promote financial inclusion and bank linkage for farmers and agricultural workers.

ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998) 

• Adopted in 1998, this declaration commits all ILO member states to respect and promote eight fundamental principles and rights, regardless of whether they have ratified the relevant conventions.
• Four Key Categories of Fundamental Principles:
  • Freedom of Association and The Right to Collective Bargaining:
  • Conventions: No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and No. 98 (Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining).
• Elimination of Forced or Compulsory Labour:
  • Conventions: No. 29 (Forced Labour) and No. 105 (Abolition of Forced Labour).
• Abolition of Child Labour:
  • Conventions: No. 138 (Minimum Age) and No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour).
• Elimination of Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation:
  • Conventions: No. 100 (Equal Remuneration) and No. 111 (Discrimination in Employment and Occupation).

Core Conventions of the ILO

• The eight fundamental conventions are crucial components of the United Nations Human Rights Framework.
• 135 member states have ratified all eight fundamental conventions, while 48 member states (including those with large populations) have not ratified all.
• The Eight Core Conventions:
  • Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
  • Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105)
  • Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100)
  • Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No. 111)
  • Minimum Age Convention (No. 138)
  • Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182)
  • Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87)
  • Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98)
• Relevance Today:
  • These conventions are crucial in the face of global economic challenges affecting workers’ welfare and livelihoods.
  • They are integral to the global human rights framework and are key to achieving social justice in a globalized world.

India and the ILO: The Scenario

• India is a founding member of the ILO and has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.
• The first ILO Office in India was established in 1928.
• India has ratified six out of the eight core ILO conventions:
  • Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
  • Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105)
  • Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100)
  • Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No. 111)
  • Minimum Age Convention (No. 138)
  • Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182)
• Non-Ratified Conventions:
  • Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87)
  • Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98)
• Reason for Non-Ratification:
  • Certain restrictions imposed on government servants prevent the ratification of Conventions No. 87 and 98.
  • Ratification would involve granting rights that are prohibited under statutory rules for government employees, such as:
    • The right to strike.
    • The right to openly criticize government policies.
    • The right to freely accept financial contributions.
    • The right to freely join foreign organizations