Caribbean focal points participate in ILO regional meeting on elimination of child labour

Empowering countries to further accelerate their regional tripartite vision through national commitments and local impact was the main focus of the IX Annual Meeting of Focal Points of the ILO Regional Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour.



The tripartite meeting was held between 23 and 27 October 2023 at the Lima-based ILO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. It brought together government representatives of 31 countries - 11 of them from the Caribbean subregion, and regional delegations from International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the Trade Union Confederation of Workers of the Americas (TUCA). The ILO Caribbean Office was also represented by Ms. Resel Melville, Programme Officer and member of the Technical Secretariat for the Regional Initiative.



“In today’s context, complex issues caused by multiple crises and widening inequalities have led to socio-economic setbacks across the region. ILO Caribbean pledges its ongoing commitment to working with our constituents to articulate and implement strategic approaches that will overcome these challenges and accelerate progress towards the elimination of child labour, as established in Goal 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Ms. Melville.



During the four-day event, participants identified, discussed and decided on comprehensive best practices, partnerships and opportunities for scaling up political, legislative and local-level technical interventions with an aim of achieving the first generation free of child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the key cross-cutting topics discussed were supply chains, education and vocational training, the care economy and child domestic work, forced labour and migration.



“The advancement of the fundamental principles of the ILO depends wholeheartedly on an all-stakeholders approach. The recent hosting of the IX Annual Meeting of Focal Points of the Regional Initiative reiterated such. The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis and its tripartite constituents have been given new hope recognizing we're not standing alone in the fight to eliminate child labour in the region. The South-South partnerships and exchange of good practices and technical assistance will certainly be of substantial interest,” said Mr. Jeneve Mills, Focal Point for Saint Kitts and Nevis and Labour Officer at the Ministry of Employment and Labour.



The Regional Initiative continues to provide access to innovative tools and good practices across the region through South-South cooperation opportunities. This has strengthened our understanding of this complex issue and the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to address the prevention and elimination of child labour.



Commenting on the event, Mr. Farouk Mohammed, Focal Point for Trinidad and Tobago, and Chief Labour Inspector Specialist at the Ministry of Labour noted, “The outcomes of the XI Annual Meeting of Focal Points of the Regional Initiative are significant at this critical time in developing innovative actions and solutions to accelerate the pace for the reduction and prevention of child labour.”



The event culminated in the presentation of Country Acceleration Plans by the majority of member countries. The Caribbean focal points also crafted and issued a joint reaffirmation statement .



For more information about the Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour, please visit: https://iniciativa2025alc.org/en