The role of social protection in eliminating child labour: evidence review and policy implications, presents findings from a number of studies conducted since 2010 that demonstrate how social protection – by helping families cope with economic or health shocks – reduces child labor and facilitates schooling.
However, too little progress has been made in ensuring that all children enjoy social protection, the study says. Thus, worldwide, 73.6%, or about 1.5 billion children aged 0 to 14, do not receive any family benefits or cash allowances. The report indicates that this important protection gap must be filled as soon as possible.
“There are many reasons to invest in universal social protection, but eliminating child labor must be one of the most compelling, given its pernicious impact on the rights and well-being of children,” said said Guy Ryder, Managing Director of theOIT.
Governments have a range of policies they can deploy to promote social protection. Unless policymakers act decisively, the Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts, growing poverty and climate change will only increase the prevalence of child labour, the study says.
More than 160 million children worldwide, or 1 in 10 children aged 5 to 17, are still engaged in child labor and progress has stalled since 2016. These trends were already present before the crisis of Covid-19. It is estimated that without mitigation strategies, the number of child laborers could increase by 8.9 million by the end of 2022, due to increased poverty and vulnerability.
Investing in universal social protection
In order to strengthen social protection systems for the prevention and elimination of child labour, the report makes a number of recommendations:
- Closing the social protection coverage gap for children.
This requires prioritizing child benefits, as well as extending social protection to the two billion workers in the informal economy, thereby supporting their transition from the informal to the formal economy.
There are many reasons to invest in universal social protection, but eliminating child labor is one of the most compelling, Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General
- Building integrated social protection systems.
Child labor could be reduced, if countries have a social protection system that provides adequate benefits across the life cycle, from child and family benefits to retirement pensions and maternity benefits and unemployment, as well as health protection.
- Ensure that the design of social protection programs is inclusive and takes into account child labor in order to optimize child labor reduction programs.
This implies, among other things, setting up family allowances for all households with children, in particular those who find themselves in situations of greater vulnerability; facilitate the receipt of social protection benefits by those who take care of children by simplifying registration procedures; and increase investment in universal, quality basic education and other vital social services for children.
- Build on the strong political commitment that already exists to end child labor and establish universal social protection to build consensus for action.
The Sustainable Development Agenda, the strong consensus agreed by the International Labor Conference in 2021, as well as the outcomes of the Durban conference on child labor can help coordinate international initiatives.
- Promote investment in social protection systems as a driver of development.
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