HC Deb 25 January 1999 vol 324 c23W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries with which she is having discussions regarding use of child labour. [66651]

Clare Short

Our work on child labour currently involves the following countries:

  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Nepal
  • Thailand
  • Cambodia
  • Laos
  • Vietnam
  • China
  • Kenya
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe.

In addition, we are supporting the UK-based Ethical Trading Initiative, which aims to investigate ways of dealing with labour issues in supermarket and other supply chains. We have also contributed $1 million to the International Labour Organisation's International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour which has over 50 participating countries. In July last year, with the aim of engaging workers organisations, we staged a child labour workshop at which unions and NGOs from the south and the north could exchange ideas.