FAO, ILO working to stamp out child labour in agriculture

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) are reaching out to agricultural professionals to raise awareness about the importance of child labour issues.

The two agencies said on Wednesday in a statement that the two organisations have jointly agreed to launch a new e-learning course designed for use by agricultural policymakers, programme designers and implementers.

That it was also designed for researchers and statisticians, to ensure that child labour prevention measures are included in agricultural and rural development programmes, particular those targeting poor smallholders, the FAO said in a statement on Wednesday.

The course covers all sectors: crops, livestock, forestry, and fisheries and aquaculture, it added.

The two UN organisations said that globally, nearly 60 per cent of all child labourers, almost 100 million girls and boys work in agriculture.

The worst forms of child labour include hazardous work that can harm their health and safety.

The agencies launched the course ahead of the UN’s World Day Against Child Labour, to be celebrated on June 12.

“To achieve zero hunger, we must also achieve zero child labour, Child labour is certainly a complex issue, and it cannot be tackled alone. We need strong partnerships, where everyone brings expertise and resources to the table,” the FAO Director-General José Graziano da-Silva said.

Agricultural policies and programmes have a unique role to play in addressing the root causes of child labour, according to da-Silva.

He said that it should be combined with adequate education systems that meet the needs of children and youth in rural areas.

The ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder said that the organizations have what it takes to end child labour.

“Together with social protection, and decent work policies for rural youth and adults, we have the basic ingredients needed to end child labour in agriculture.

“Consumers rightly expect that the people who put food on their plates and clothes on their backs should not be child labourers or forced labourers.

“Rural children should expect to benefit from quality education and decent work opportunities in their communities. Òur e-learning course sends a clear message that it is imperative to end child labour in agriculture.

“This tool will help to build the capacity of agricultural stakeholders as well as labour stakeholders, and others to fully engage where they can best contribute,” he said.