World leaders expressed concerns that the Covid-19 pandemic may push millions of vulnerable children into child labour. Already, there are an estimated 152 million children in child labour, 72 million of which are in hazardous work.
These children are now at even greater risk of facing circumstances that are even more difficult and working longer hours.
These views came into surface at discussions and campaigns organised by various organizations across the globe. On the occasion in Bangladesh the ‘World Day against Child Labour’ was also observed on Friday.
The day was observed with the call to end child labour in all forms by 2025 to meet the target of the sustainable development goal target (SDG). This year, the World Day Against Child Labour 2020 focused on the impact of crisis on child labour.
In Bangladesh also, the day was observed with due importance. Various organizations chalked out different programmes to mark the day.
Winrock International with the support of United States Department of Labor/Bureau of International Labor Affairs (USDoL/ILAB) is working to reduce child labor and improve acceptable working condition in the Dried Fish Sector (DFS) in southeast Bangladesh.
This project is also working to engage other civil society organizations to improve child labor situation in compliance with government’s continuing efforts. Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP) in collaboration with CLIMB Project, is contributing to these efforts as a Media and Communication partner.
While important achievements in the fight against child labour continue to be made in Bangladesh, some 1.2 million children are still trapped in its worst forms, according to the latest National Child Labour Survey report, published in 2015.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic and labour market shock are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer, the world leaders expressed.
On the occasion, a high-level virtual dialogue was organized with the importance of protecting children from child labour in COVID-19 response and recovery plans, while looking forward to the International Year on the Elimination of Child Labour, 2021.
The views of UN agencies, governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society and youth took part in the discussions.
The impact of COVID-19 on child labour and measures to mitigate the impact, current health, economic and social crisis that might affect progress towards SDG Target 8.7; and the opportunity for all UN member states and partners to join forces during the International Year on the Elimination of Child Labour in 2021 were also highlighted at the debate.
Guy Ryder, Director-General, ILO, Ms Henrietta Fore , Executive Director, UNICEF, Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Laureate and founder of the Global March Against Child Labour and the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, Ms Anousheh Karvar, Chair, Alliance 8.7, Ms Geannina Dinarte, Minister of Labour, Costa Rica, Roberto Suarez-Santos, Secretary-General, International Organisation of Employers (IOE), Ms Sharan Burrow, Secretary-General, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), were the panelists at the dialogue while it was moderated by Ms Conny Czymoch, International journalist and moderator.
This year the World Day is conducted as a virtual campaign organized jointly with the Global March Against Child Labour and the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture (IPCCLA).
