DUSHANBE, June 12, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- An event to discuss and present the final version of the National Action Plan on Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor for 2014-2020 is being held din Dushanbe today.

The event is dedicated to the World Day Against Child labor, which is marked on June 12.

Ms. Muhayo Khosabekova, the National Program Coordinator of the International Labor Organization (ILO) for Elimination of Child Labor in Tajikistan, says national experts and specialists from the Ministry of Labor and Social protection, who has worked on the document for more than two years, are presenting the final version of the National Action Plan.

“Such events that are aimed at drawing attention of the public to the problem of child labor have been held in Tajikistan annually since 2002,” Ms. Khosabekova said.

The national action plan (NAP) that will contribute to the progressive elimination of the worst forms of child labor (WFCL) in Tajikistan reportedly reflects the importance attached to child labor issue at national level and determination in fulfilling national and international commitments.  

The World Day Against Child Labor is an International Labor Organization–sanctioned holiday for the purpose of raising awareness and activism to prevent child labor in both economic and military fields.  It is currently held each June 12. The ILO created this observance in 2002 and it has been held annually since then.  The creation of this international awareness day was spurred by the ratifications of ILO Convention 138 on the minimum age for employment and ILO Convention 182 on forms of child labor.

The theme for this year is “No to child labor in domestic work!”

Around the world, large numbers of children are engaged in paid or unpaid domestic work in the home of a third party or employer.  These children can be particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Their work is often hidden from the public eye, they may be isolated, and they may be working far away from their family home. Stories of the abuse of children in domestic work are all too common.

On the 2013 World Day Against Child Labor the ILO calls for: legislative and policy reforms to ensure the elimination of child labor in domestic work and the provision of decent work conditions and appropriate protection to young workers in domestic work who have reached the legal working age; ratify ILO Convention No. 189 concerning decent work for domestic workers and its implementation along with the ILO’s child labor Convention;  and action to build the Worldwide movement against child labor and to build the capacity of domestic workers organizations to address child labor.