32: In its recommendations to the Working Group, the Society stated that the Government of Spain should be urged to implement existing legislation and to make every effort to comply with its international obligations.
33. The representative of the ILO informed the Working Group that, in March 1980, the Goverment of Spain had adopted new labour legislation (Estatuto de Trabajadores) replacing the Labour Relations Act. The new law, which raised the minimum age for admission to employment to 16, appeared to go a long way toward improving the situation. The ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, however, had not yet reviewed and evaluated the new legislation.
34. In this respect, a member of the Working Group expressed the view that the Government of Spain should be commended for the adoption of the new legislation and requested to supply information on the matter.
3.
Child labour in Italy
35. This study indicated that Italy had the highest number of child workers in the European Economic Community, totalling half a million children, who were reported to be working in all sectors of the economy. However, few of these children were recognized or mentioned in the official labour force statistics and many worked illegaly as part of the growing black labour market. The report stated that, as in other countries, child labour in Italy was concomitant with high adult unemployment, with a schooling system which discriminated against the disprivileged and with inadequately implemented labour laws.
36: According to the report, child labour in industry was to be found primarily in small-scale enterprises which were labour-intensive and used simple technology, such as firms involved in the production and finishing of leather goods, textiles and garments and in certain stages of production within the motor and electrical industries. These small firms operated from unregistered premises and recruited labour through clandestine channels and on casual terms. This enabled them to avoid the payment of taxes and social insurance, thereby lowering production costs and increasing profits. Children working in these firms were unprotected by the trade unions and largely overlooked by the Labour Inspectorate. It was reported that since the contribution of these small workshops to the Italian economy was increasing, so did the demand for the cheap illegal labour of children.
37. The study further stated that child labour was most prevalent in the regions of high unemployment and extensive poverty; children's earnings represented a necessary supplement to the family income. Although legal provision was made for free compulsory schooling for at least eight years, many families preferred to send their children to work because in practice the schools fulfilled neither their social nor their educational responsibilities. The study further indicated that legislation adopted in 1967 to protect children and young persons was inadequately implemented and that there was a lack of information which rendered it difficult to identify the areas in which legislation was most deficient. Italy had not yet ratified the ILO Convention on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (No. 138) although the Government had reported that proposals for ratification were in progress.
#
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.