In a bid to eliminate child labor in the country, India has given approval for two conventions of International Labor Organisation (ILO).

India has been working in a concerted manner to eliminate child labor by following a multipronged strategy including stringent legislation and a project based approach. India will affirm its commitment for a child labor free India by ratifying ILO convention 138 regarding admission of age to employment and convention 182 regarding the worst forms of child labor.

Ratification of these two core conventions by India has not only national but international ramifications for eradication of child labor. Almost 99 per cent of children in the world are covered by convention 182. Coverage of convention 138 has been enhanced from approximately 60 per cent to almost 80 per cent of the world’s children.

India is the 170th ILO member state to ratify convention 138, which requires states to set a minimum age under which no one shall be admitted to employment or work in any occupation, except for light work and artistic performances.

Textile workers around the world, many of whom are young women and children, face exploitations such as long working hours, low wages, uncertainty, violence and hazardous conditions.