New Delhi, 11June 2007: Global March Against Child labour, a world wide movement of child rights group, teacher organisations and trade unions active in 140 countries calls for urgent action to stop child labour in agriculture sector. An estimated 150 million children are engaged in agriculture sector, which form 70% of the total child labour force in the world.

 Agriculture is considered as a traditional medium of livelihood but the hazards in this sector remain unnoticed. The uncontrolled use of harmful chemicals like pesticides, insecticides and working with agricultural machinery damage the tender organs of working children and cause accidents. This also directly affects full time education, school retention and quality learning of these children. Children being the cheapest or free labour results in adult unemployment and low wages, which further fuels poverty. This situation is worsened by absence of legal enforcement or inadequate laws, inefficient schooling and health facilities.

Kailash Satyarthi, Chairperson Global March Against Child Labour said “it is unethical to eat delicious food and wear expensive clothes which are produced by half fed, half naked and even enslaved children trapped in agriculture world-wide” . “For how long so called civilized human beings will continue consuming the earnings of their young children, which is not even practiced by animals and birds?” he asked.

Global March Against Child Labour with its partners demands a total eradication and rehabilitation of child labour in agriculture as it restricts education, health, freedom and development of children. ILO convention on Worst Form of Child Labour (182) and Minimum Age of Employment (138) must be ratified and genuinely enforced by following the recommendations. The civil society should be involved in planning, execution and monitoring of the National Action Plan substantiated with implementation mechanism and resources.

Governments must ensure free, compulsory and good quality of education with special focus on children working in agriculture.  Minimum 6% of GDP must be earmarked for education including hiring and training teachers with decent wages. A comprehensive policy has to be worked out by the government to integrate elimination of child labour in the education for all agenda as well as in poverty reduction strategy paper.

Many industries like chocolate, jute, sugar, silk, coffee, tea, food involve children in the production and distribution. The corporate sector and national government must ascertain the non employment of children in their production.

Global March will be observing this year World Day Against Child Labour (June 12th 2007” as “Stop Child Labour In Agriculture Day”. Through its members and partner organistions Global March Against Child Labour will be conducting rallies, demonstrations, public meetings, in many countries.