Targeting The Pressing Issue of Child Labor

Targeting The Pressing Issue of Child Labor

The alarming issue of international migration and lack of education in immigrants from ASEAN countries have drawn concerns from many individuals, alerting the ministers of ASEAN countries to take immediate action.

In every ASEAN country, 1 in 8 people are migrants, stated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The delegation of Russia and Gulf Cooperation Council introduced ‘REACH’ framework (R-Regional Migration Registry, E-Education Access Guarantee for Migration Children, A ASEAN Labour Compliance Task Force, C-Community Legal Aid, H-Humanitarian Incentives) to tackle this issue.

International migration

The increasingly large number of children migrating internally and across national borders results in the children falling victim to the negative impacts of child labor. In a statement, the delegate of Myanmar highlighted the dangers faced by immigrant children and the need for tracking border flows.

In response to the pressing challenge, the delegates of Russia and the GCC urged the council to come together and consolidate all existing frameworks in the ‘REACH’ framework. Specifically, the Regional Migration Registry, which aims to track cross-border flows amongst ASEAN countries to target undocumented children at risk of trafficking and tackles the issue of fake or missing IDs.

The delegation of the GCC also introduced the Biometric Age Verification System (GABAVS)

which utilizes fingerprint and facial scans at high-risk border exit and entry points.

“This Regional Migration Registry can improve detection of undocumented children,

allow for data-sharing, and most importantly, protect the children.” The delegate of GCC said.

Education Access Guarantees

The Education Access Guarantee for Migration Children section of the framework

provides youths with basic education, regardless of their migration status.

The council believes that if youths have the needed skills for workforce survival, the risk of getting exploited would be much lower.

The delegation of Russia has partnered with ASEAN countries to educate migrant children, allowing them to receive digital scholarships and resources.

Task Force

The ASEAN Labour Compliance Task Force includes a monitoring mechanism targeting supply chains with a high risk of child labor, especially in cross-border countries.

“The protection of children’s rights is an ongoing issue that must be handled with utmost urgency. By targeting the source, the number of children submitted to child labor will rapidly decrease.” The delegation of the GCC said.

The delegate of India emphasized the child Labour rate in India reaches 5.8 million with 18.8% of children being migrants. The task force also involves an audit to be conducted by a regional body composed of experienced volunteers once a year.

“The data and information collected will be shared only within the regional body, and used for means to eradicate further child Labour from all ASEAN countries.” The delegation of Singapore added.

Community Legal Aid

The Community Legal Aid caters to migrant children and their families who may not fully understand how serious the exploitation of minors in the workforce may be. This allows for child welfare hotlines across ASEAN countries to be implemented.

Humanitarian Incentives

Due to poverty in ASEAN countries, many children have no choice but to start working at a young age in order to provide for their families.

The humanitarian incentives offer conditional incentives such as food aid or job opportunities for adults. This can also tackle poor living conditions for families.

The food aid would provide the families with necessities, which ensures children do not need to work to feed the whole family.

The emergence of simple job opportunities allows adults to support their families even without proper education, allowing them to not rely on their children, ensuring they are not deprived of their childhood by child labour.

“Together with the support of the delegation of Russia, with its contribution to the

multilateral ASEAN Migration Fund and cooperation with NGOs, can reduce the negative consequences of child labor.” The delegation of Laos stated.

Written by Tiana Wong, Jezelle Beh, and Rachel Teng Jin Ying