B'desh ratifies ILO convention to eliminate child labour

Bangladesh has ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 138 on minimum age for employment, thus taking a major step in its battle to eliminate child labour.
The country also fixes 14 years as the minimum age for employment in line with the convention that requires Bangladesh to set a minimum age under which no one shall be admitted to employment or work in any occupation, allowing exceptions only for children in light work and artistic performances.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian submitted the ratification instruments at ILO headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday, according to a statement.
This ratification is a part of the government's commitment under the National Action Plan (NAP) on the Labour Sector of Bangladesh (2021-2026).
In January 2022, Bangladesh also ratified Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention (the Protocol No. 29), reinforcing its international commitment to the prevention and elimination of forced labour, including trafficking in persons.
With this ratification, Bangladesh has now ratified all eight of ILO's 'Fundamental Conventions' covering social and labour issues that are considered fundamental to rights at work.
Addressing the ceremony, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder welcomed the commitment of Bangladesh to create a child-labour free society.
"Today, with the ratification of ILO Convention No. 138, Bangladesh reaffirms its strong commitment to eradicating child labour in the country, and yet again demonstrates that it is steadfast in its efforts aimed at achieving this goal," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Bangladesh State Minister Ms Sufian said, "The ratification of the Minimum Age Convention demonstrates the government of Bangladesh's goal to eliminate all forms of child labour by 2025."
Anisul Huq, minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs; Md Mustafizur Rahman, permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Office at Geneva; and Md Ehsan-E-Elahi, secretary of the labour and employment ministry, were also present at the event.
According to ILO estimates released in 2020, the number of children in child labour has risen to 160 million worldwide.
The child labour survey carried out by the government in collaboration with ILO in 2015 found that 1.7 million children work as child labourers in Bangladesh.
A new survey report is expected to be published in mid-2022, according to the statement.
ILO Convention No. 138 sets the minimum age to enter the workforce at 15 years of age.
It also gives countries the opportunity to establish, in consultation with organisations of workers and employers, the minimum age at 14, which Bangladesh has elected to do, reaffirming the age limit enshrined in current Bangladeshi legislation.
Following the ratification, Bangladesh will need to ensure in law and in practice that the minimum age of entry into work or employment in selected sectors, both in formal and informal economy, is not below 14 years of age, said the statement.
This includes mining and quarrying; manufacturing; construction; electricity, gas, and water; sanitary services; transport, storage and communication; and plantations and other agricultural undertakings mainly producing for commercial purposes but excluding family and small-scale holdings producing for local consumption and not regularly employing hired workers.
Other significant changes include the need to align the age of compulsory school education with that of entry into the workforce.
In Bangladesh, free and compulsory education is currently mandatory until grade five. This change would be in line with the National Education Policy which recommends free and compulsory education up to grade eight.
ILO Country Director in Bangladesh, Tuomo Poutiainen, in the statement said, "This ratification is a milestone for Bangladesh as it seeks to eliminate all forms of child labour. ILO will continue to work closely with the government, employers and workers of Bangladesh to ensure a brighter future for all its children."
Welcoming the ratification, President of Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF), Ardashir Kabir said, "As a society, it is our moral obligation to ensure children don't toil at work but receive quality education and training which prepares them for a brighter future."
"Ratification of the Minimum Age Convention will greatly support this goal and I am confident that all employers will play their role in freeing Bangladesh of child labour," he noted.
National Coordination Committee for Workers' Education Chairperson Mesbah Uddin Ahmed and Member Secretary Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam highlighted the challenges that lie ahead.
They said the trade union movement had long advocated for the ratification of the Minimum Age Convention and they were extremely happy to see this day arrive.
However, much remains to be done - awareness raising, advocacy, better inspections and more effective enforcement are all needed to make Bangladesh free from child labour, they noted.
In 2001, Bangladesh signed the ILO's Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) which calls for the prohibition and elimination of all worst forms of child labour, including slavery, forced labour, trafficking and hazardous work, both in law and in practice.
Accordingly, the country prohibits hazardous work for children below 18.
With support from development partners, the ILO has been working to eliminate child labour in Bangladesh since 1994.

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