Commission Recommendation

of 15 September 2000

on the ratification of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No 182 of 17 June 1999 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour

(notified under document number C(2000) 2674)

(2000/581/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the second indent of Article 211 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) ILO Convention No 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour of 17 June 1999 requires ratifying States to take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst of child labour as a matter of urgency.

(2) ILO Convention No 182 was adopted unanimously at the 1999 International Labour Conference.

(3) ILO Convention No 138 concerning the minimum age for admission to employment of 26 June 1973 provides that the minimum age for admission to any type of employment or work which by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out is likely to jeopardise the health, safety or morals of young persons shall not be less than 18 years.

(4) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989 recognises the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be harzadous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

(5) The aim of ILO Convention No 182, the effective elimination of the worst forms of child labour, is also a long-standing objective of the Community.

(6) Council Directive 94/33/EC of 22 June 1994 on the protection of young people at work provides that Member States shall ensure that young people are protected against economic exploitation and against any work likely to harm their safety, health or physical, mental, moral or social development or to jeopardise their education.

(7) The 1999 EU Annual Report on Human Rights welcomes the adoption of ILO Convention No 182 and calls for rapid ratification and implementation of the new Convention.

(8) The European Union, in its statement on the rights of the child delivered to the 56th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on 11 April 2000, strongly encouraged States that have not yet done so to ratify ILO Conventions No 138 and No 182.

(9) The Community is committed to promoting respect for fundamental labour standards, reflecting the Community's commitment to democracy and the rule of law, and to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

(10) The Community strongly supports international efforts to implement effectively the ILO's Declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work.

(11) The widest possible ratification of ILO Convention No 182 will reinforce its effectiveness as a standard of universal validity,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS:

- that Member States, which have not yet done so, ratify the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, adopted on 17 June 1999,

- that Member States inform the Commission, within a period of one year from publication of this recommendation, of the steps taken pursuant to it.

Done at Brussels, 15 September 2000.

For the Commission

Anna Diamantopoulou

Member of the Commission