MEPs debate on the current situation on the child labour and how to protect and guarantee children's rights on the occasion of the World Day. The European Parliament has condemned child labour and its various forms within and outside the EU in a number of resolutions over the years. During the current term, Parliament has issued, inter alia, a resolution on children's rights in view of the EU strategy on the rights of the child (March 2021), calling on the Commission and Member States to end, in law and in practice, all child labour and all other forms of work likely to harm children's health and safety. Opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please chack against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

children's rights (T)

REYNDERS, Didier (BE, EC)

Marking the World Day against Child Labour: opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Thank you, Dear President, dear Members, thank you for scheduling this debate today to mark the World Day Against Child Labour. There has been a significant decrease in the number of children engaged in child labour in the 21st century, going from 245 million in 2000 to 152 million in 2016. But, this positive trend has stopped between 2016 and 2020.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, The number of children in child labour globally is rising to 160 million, nearly half of whom are engaged in hazardous work. We are deeply concerned about the recent increase in child labour, which is affecting children's rights and hindering their full development.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, We cannot accept this very worrying trend, which is also contrary to the commitment that we have taken with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda to reduce inequality and poverty in the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, The European Union remains committed towards putting an end to child labour through a zero tolerance approach to the issue. Within the Union, the EU strategy on the rights of the child adopted in 2021 specifically makes the commitment towards a zero tolerance approach against child labour in line with Article 32 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, With the European Child Guarantee, we aim at fighting child poverty and ensuring that children in need have access to key services to thrive in their life. EU Member States have high minimum standards for the protection of children, particularly in relation to child labour, which are in line with and generally provide a higher level of protection then, the European Labour organisation conventions, on minimum age and worst forms of child labour.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, When it comes to tackling child by world, the EU continues to act all 2022 Communication on Decent Work Worldwide, which all lines the EU's commitment to promoting the four elements of decent work, social protection and employment creation, standards and rights at work and social dialogue and tripartism includes a specific focus on the eradication of child labour and forced labour.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, The European Union is involved in several projects and programmes aimed at eradicating child labour, such as the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, which promotes the use of sustainable cocoa production methods and works to prevent child labour in cocoa farming. While the Clear Cotton Project aims to combat child labour in the cotton supply chain.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, The European Union also provides funding for development programmes aimed at reducing child labour, such as the international labour organisations Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour and has supported initiatives to combat child labour in specific sectors such as mining and fisheries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, In addition to these projects and initiatives, the European Union promotes international standards on child labour in its free trade agreements and unilateral trade preference schemes. Moreover, the Commission's proposal for a new generalised scheme of preference renders the export of goods made by internationally prohibited child labour a grounds for withdrawing unilateral trade preferences.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Another key component of the EU's approach to addressing child labour is the promotion of responsible business conduct and sustainable supply chains. The Commission's proposal for a Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence would require companies to identify and address negative human rights impacts in their supply chains, including child labour impacts.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, The Commission has also proposed to prohibit products made using forced labour from the EU market, including products made with forced child labour. We also work within international and multilateral form to support the implementation of UN instruments on decent work, and the European Union is actively contributing to setting labour standards through the international Labour Organisation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Today, as every day, we should unite to say that all children should be protected from child labour. Thank you.