§ 21. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to help end the system of bonded labour in south Asia. [119375]
§ Clare ShortThe Government are working for the elimination of bonded labour in several ways. We played a key role in discussions to draw up the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998) and the Convention for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999) which both outlaw bonded labour and provide international standards and monitoring mechanisms. The UK has provided $2 million over the last two financial years to ILO' s International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). Many child labourers in south Asia work under bonded conditions.
At country and regional level we are working with the ILO, national Governments, trades unions and other civil society organisations to promote labour rights and tackle the poverty which usually underlies abuses. One of the causes of bondage is indebtedness to landowners. We are supporting micro-credit schemes which aim to provide alternative sources of affordable finance to poor people.
In the UK we are supporting the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), a consortium of business, trades unions and non-governmental organisations which encourages companies, many of whom have suppliers in south Asia, to adopt codes of conduct including labour standards throughout their supply chain.