Brussels, 09/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - Although the EU/India summit on 13 October in Helsinki is expected to help deepen relations between the two partners, in trade, energy, science and technology, a group of non-governmental organisations are urging the two partners to include the question of child labour on the agenda for their discussions. The “Stop Child Labour - School is the best place to work”, which brings together several NGOs in cooperation with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) sent a five point letter to the acting president of the Council, the Finnish prime minister, Matti Vanhanen, requesting that they move forward on this issue and the right to education.
Welcoming the entry into force on 10 October of an Indian law banning child labour in some sectors (restaurants, hotels, bars, etc.), the NGOs remain concerned by the question of education of children freed from this kind of work. “Stop Child Labour” is therefore demanding that the EU supports the transition from work to school by way of new or existing programmes. In broader terms, it is urging the EU to reach an agreement with India to organise a follow-up on this issue of transition when European firms operating in India are involved. Signatories to the letter also insist that India implement the Constitutional amendment of 2002 recognising the right to education for all children and ratifies the International Labour Organisation conventions on the minimum age for working and those on the worst kinds of child labour. With thirteen million children working in India, the country has the biggest level of child labour in the world according to official figures (certain estimates put the future at between 60 and a hundred million children working). The letter is available at: (http: //http://www.schoolisthebestplacetowork.org. ) (ab)