ANNEX I. INTERVIEWS

OCTAVIO CARBAJAL,
CONCAMIN (MÉXICO)

1.
Why is it important for the employers’ sector to eliminate child labour and forced labour?
A.- Because the activities of the formal employers’ sector should be based on the compliance with national and international standards that define minimum age for admission to employment and under no circumstance on the exploitation of minors.
2.
What is the role of the employers’ sector and what are the actions it could put in place to contribute to definitively eliminate Child Labour and Forced Labour?
A.- To disseminate in employers’ associations and enterprises the child labour eradication campaign; coordinate joint actions to that effect with administrative or government authorities. Organize events with the members of employers’ associations, showing the negative effects of the practice.
3.
Contributing factors (legislation, attitudes, investments) and barriers identified by the employers’ sector.
A.- Rigorous law enforcement in worst forms of child labour cases, even resorting to criminal legislation, if applicable.
Attract investments in the areas where social and economic situations are detected that force children to work, especially by offering jobs to the parents so that children do not have to work
4.
What mechanisms, tools and actions are you familiar with at regional level, or in your opinion which ones could be created to progress in attaining the goal to eradicate child labour and forced labour and generate youth employment?
A.- For youth employment, specialised technical schools may be a tool to train and educate minors and facilitate their entry to the labour market when the time is right.
5.
How do you understand the articulation between labour market and education to enhance the creation of quality youth employment?
A.- As mentioned in the previous paragraph, I believe it is essential and should be almost obligatory.
6.
What other tools and incentives would the employers’ sector need to facilitate its contribution to the creation of youth employment?
A.- Draft regulations to incorporate “trainees” into the social security system framework to support their occupational integration under the right protection while being economically viable for employers;
Regulate in the corresponding labour legislation these forms of education/training to assist youths and motivate companies, with the appropriate monitoring in place.
7.
Do you believe that the LAC regional initiative to eliminate child labour may be taken as a driving force for new social dialogue on the effective implementation of policies?
A. - I believe it is very positive and it has the potential.
8.
Do you consider that at the IV Global Conference on the Sustainable Elimination of Child Labour, to be held in Argentina in November 2017, the eradication of forced labour should focus on forced labour imposed on children or on adults as well?
R.- I think it should clearly focus on the core purpose which is the eradication of child labour and, as related issues, forced labour imposed on minors and the generation of youth employment, without shifting the focus from child labour. Adult forced labour is of course an especially important issue, but other scenarios and entities should approach it.

CARLA CABALLEROS,
CÁMARA DEL AGRO (GUATEMALA)

1.
¿Why is it important for the employers’ sector to eliminate child labour and forced labour?
A. - Because working children have no education or training opportunities, and are therefore the future low-productivity workers.
Because it is part of companies’ legal obligations.
Although it is a phenomenon happening mostly in the informal economy, because of how it is seen it affects the reputation of enterprises and countries at large, which is negative for the country image and for investment.
2.
¿What is the role of the employers’ sector and what are the actions it could put in place to contribute to definitively eliminate Child Labour and Forced Labour?
A. - Train and circulate among the members and private sector companies the importance of law abidance.
Foster labour policies and business management systems to monitor that minors and children under the minimum age for admission to employment are not hired.
Monitor educational coverage at national level and become its promoter/auditor and spokesman.
Propose, promote and execute preventive actions in the communities.
3.
Contributing factors (legislation, attitudes, investments) and barriers identified by the employers’ sector.
A.- Informality of the labour market and the economic activity, which is higher in rural areas. Cultural patterns.
4.
¿What mechanisms, tools and actions are you familiar with at regional level, or in your opinion which ones could be created to progress in attaining the goal to eradicate child labour and forced labour and generate youth employment?
A. - The three issues should be approached separately. Eradication of child labour, especially its prevention, should be approached individually and prioritised in such manner in order to make progress. In the case of youth employment and forced labour, actions are broader, it could even be said that such actions relate to a country’s general employment policy, i.e. broader and more complex.
Education is the best tool to prevent child labour. And creating awareness is an essential aspect.
Networks like REDUCA and its members, in each country, are one of the best regional mechanisms to introduce in schools the focus on education, measures and educational quality proposal, teaching hours, budget quality and include information technology and internet access.
Since child labour is principally found in informal sectors and family farming, gravel for construction and others which in many countries are social programmes’ beneficiaries, or involve products purchased nationally, Governments’ monitoring that no child labour is employed should be included in their procurement policies, and in their social programs to also control that no child labour exists and that children are enrolled in schools.
Also mechanisms should be put in place to facilitate sharing school enrolment information in the various regions so that during the school term children who migrate with their families from departments/provinces during crops in some agricultural activities do not interrupt their schooling cycle.
5.
¿How do you understand the articulation between labour market and education to enhance the creation of quality youth employment?
R.- Promoting alliances between the Ministries of Education and/or national schools for the curriculum, particularly in rural areas, to respond to the local productive needs (i.e. to labour market demands).
6.
¿What other tools and incentives would the employers’ sector need to facilitate its contribution to the creation of youth employment?
R.- The same ones applied for the creation of general employment: Improve the business climate, facilitate hiring, increase market flexibility, foster productive investment, and enhance educational quality/productivity.
7.
¿Do you believe that the LAC regional initiative to eliminate child labour may be taken as a driving force for new social dialogue on the effective implementation of policies?
R.- I’d say “Don't bite off more than you can chew”. It can be done, if the priority focus is not shifted away from prevention and eradication of child labour.
8.
Do you consider that at the IV Global Conference on the Sustainable Elimination of Child Labour, to be held in Argentina in November 2017, the eradication of forced labour should focus on forced labour imposed on children or on adults as well?
R.- The approach should focus on all forms of child labour, taking in the worst forms (forced labour included).

JULIANA MANRIQUE,
ANDI (COLOMBIA)

1.
Why is it important for the employers’ sector to eliminate child labour and forced labour?
R.-

It is very important. Child labour means perpetuating poverty. It is the result of the lack of opportunities and the absence of the State. Children should study, and parents should earn income to cover the family’s basic needs. Public policies should be implemented to facilitate access to education, employment opportunities, and parents whose jobs will improve as a result of the growth of the country’s economy.

Approaching informality with regards to this issue is essential, since it accounts for a large part of the economy and is associated to social vulnerability. The lack of good social security leads to the worst forms of child labour.

2.
¿What is the role of the employers’ sector and what are the actions it could put in place to contribute to definitively eliminate Child Labour and Forced Labour?
R.-In the realm of formality, large companies – and trade unions – are in a position to create awareness among contractors and supply chains so that they do not hire child labour. SMEs should commit to do likewise. The central role is to sensitise the supply chains, counsel them, and implement due diligence processes. Employers should participate in public policy making to eliminate child labour and attract all sectors to commit to this goal. The Network of Companies against Child Labour is also very useful (e.g. Red Colombia). Major interest exists in contributing to bills and regulations that reflect the everyday reality.

The concerning elements to remember are: the burden of a social and cultural matrix that considers child labour necessary, a part of daily life; the absence of the State, which does not reach many places, with no institutions available; the lack of opportunities in remote locations, and the presence of armed groups that further stresses the isolation. Social peace-making is therefore relevant, since it creates major opportunities.

3.
Contributing factors (legislation, attitudes, investments) and barriers identified by the employers’ sector.
R.- Among the contributing factors, are: public-private alliances: a clear definition of the meaning of child labour, and the ages authorised by the Ministry of Labour; the National Committee to guarantee training, and training municipal agencies. As for barriers: the lack of articulation between entities working without effective coordination; the need for cultural changes in rural areas, structural poverty and the problem of remote areas.
4.
¿What mechanisms, tools and actions are you familiar with at regional level, or in your opinion which ones could be created to progress in attaining the goal to eradicate child labour and forced labour and generate youth employment?
R.- The situation is complex in LAC. The Prediction model could be interesting as it can generate indicators through geolocation, which allows for joint efforts on the basis of a specific risk map. The employers’ sector’s Best Practices Virtual Platform is already operational and should be reinforced.
5.
¿How do you understand the articulation between labour market and education to enhance the creation of quality youth employment?
R.- Quality youth employment requires articulation, counselling, innovation and promotion strategies, focusing on sustainable enterprises. Coordination between governments and employers’ organisations should focus not only on identifying technical needs, but also on the social skills required. There is no clear coordination between educational programmes and production needs. The direct relationship between the Government and Employers’ Sector should be geared to apprenticeship programmes, and apprenticeship contracts to introduce youths in the labour market.
6.
¿Do you believe that the LAC regional initiative to eliminate child labour may be taken as a driving force for new social dialogue on the effective implementation of policies?
R.- Information systems on human capital, relevance, counselling students, national bilingualism plans, and quality in vocational training. Tertiary education should be fostered, equating the level of technical education to that of traditional professions required by the employers’ sector.
7.
¿Do you consider that at the IV Global Conference on the Sustainable Elimination of Child Labour, to be held in Argentina in November 2017, the eradication of forced labour should focus on forced labour imposed on children or on adults as well?
R.- A more in-depth dialogue is needed.
8.
En el desarrollo de la IV Conferencia Mundial de Trabajo Infantil a realizarse en Argentina en noviembre de 2017, ¿cómo considera que deberían ser enfocada la erradicación del trabajo forzoso, centrarse en el trabajo forzoso de los niños o incluir también el trabajo forzoso de los adultos?
R.- El Grupo Empleador considera que el trabajo forzoso requiere otros espacios de discusión. Es necesario superar la etapa de estancamiento que tuvo el tema, a fin de abordar futuros desafíos.

MARISOL LINERO,
CONEP (PANAMÁ)

1.
Why is it important for the employers’ sector to eliminate child labour and forced labour?
A. - Although the employers’ sector believes that work is required on prevention and the vast majority understands that there is no child labour in formal enterprises, the statistics show that 11.5 children are subjected to child labour in LAC, and of those 23855 live in Panama. In the medium and long term this will have an impact on companies’ human resources, and it prevents youths from being educated and trained or receiving quality education in order to become good citizens, future partners and entrepreneurs, in a growingly technological world.
2.
What is the role of the employers’ sector and what are the actions it could put in place to contribute to definitively eliminate Child Labour and Forced Labour?
A. - Talk about prevention; work on sensitising the supply chain, guarantee that our workers send their children to school, make an impact on our members and the community where we run our business.
3.
Contributing factors (legislation, attitudes, investments) and barriers identified by the employers’ sector.
A. - As barriers, the following can be mentioned: informality, the social environment and the social and cultural matrix which favours child labour in family businesses. Awareness is required to exit this vicious circle. Our societies take many things for granted. Every child should attend school in the new generations, and sensitisation is required with regards to rights and obligations.
4.
What mechanisms, tools and actions are you familiar with at regional level, or in your opinion which ones could be created to progress in attaining the goal to eradicate child labour and forced labour and generate youth employment?
Public-private alliances with an effective work plan. Reinforcing the Government-Enterprise relationship. Company networks are good. Work needs to be done with the media, through innovative ideas approach radio listeners in remote places, using commercials, soap-operas, newsreels, and discussion panels. Printed media do not reach everybody. A multiplier effect should be sought using the audio-visual media to create awareness, for instance YouTube, and reaching the socially vulnerable areas. Also important are certifications, social audits, and responsible shopping initiatives for citizens and consumers to look for child-labour-free products. The new generations are very keen on making content go viral.
5.
¿How do you understand the articulation between labour market and education to enhance the creation of quality youth employment?
R.- Much still needs to be done. There are no public policies and incentives in place. Investment to train youths for their first job is lacking. The traditional trained human resources scheme versus the first job programme should be abandoned. In Latin America no mentoring tradition exists. The new generations are not given opportunities to move up since the older generations do not leave their managerial positions.
6.
¿What other tools and incentives would the employers’ sector need to facilitate its contribution to the creation of youth employment?
A. - Mentoring in SMEs, business mentors and enterprises in charge of women among others.
7.
¿Do you believe that the LAC regional initiative to eliminate child labour may be taken as a driving force for new social dialogue on the effective implementation of policies?
A. - Nothing has yet been implemented, it is not understood. More training and technical assistance are needed; work on codes of conduct and the supply chain. Governments still do not understand. The exchange of best practices will be of utmost importance if progress is expected in actions associated to Target 8.7, for instance watch what the EU has done.
8.
Do you consider that at the IV Global Conference on the Sustainable Elimination of Child Labour, to be held in Argentina in November 2017, the eradication of forced labour should focus on forced labour imposed on children or on adults as well?
A. - We are against discussing adults at the Conference since it would degrade the relevance of child labour. Anyways, approaching sustainable development and Target 8.7 will provide the future framework. Forced labour and child labour coexist in a certain sense. With respect to the Prediction model, it is a magnifier that amplifies situations in specific locations. It uses the country statistics. It combines and provides tools in towns where child labour is detected. It identifies the most complex areas. It is used to reduce rates. Dissemination is needed to understand and implement.

ECEM PIRLER,
(OIE)

1.
Why is it important for the Employers the abolition of child labour and forced labour?
R. - Child labour, particularly in its dangerous and exploitative forms, is intolerable for everyone because of its inhumanity and the negative long-term consequences for the economic and social well-being of the children concerned. Preventing and addressing harm to children is a compelling human rights issue that many companies do not need to be persuaded to commit to. In addition, forced labour is universally condemned, and banned and is the subject of widely ratified international instruments.
2.
What is the role of the employer sector in the abolition of child labor and forced labor? What this sector could do to achieve this goal? Which are the barriers that could be found in order to achieve this goal?
R.- Under the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human rights, there is a corporate responsibility to respect human rights, meaning to act with due diligence to avoid infringing on the rights of others and to address negative impacts with which they are involved. Therefore, employers have a responsibility beyond ethical reasons and a role to play in the eradication of child labour and forced labour. Please refer to page 21-onwards of the ILO-IOE Child Labour Guidance Tool for Business regarding the role of the employer sector and the what can it do to achieve this goal.
3.
What, in your opinion, are the factors that contribute to the elimination of child labor and forced labor (Ex.: legislation, culture, investments?)?
R.- The following factors contribute to the responsibilities of the employers with regards to child and forced labour:
  • Improved risk management: involvement with child and forced labour an expose a company to public criticism and campaigning by civil society organisations and in the press, leading to reputational harm and harm to employee retention and recruitment
  • Impacts on markets: child and forced labour hampers the economic development of a country and the income of consumers that are needed for long-term business success
  • Greater access to business opportunities: business customers increasingly recognise the reduced risk to themselves when working with a company that effectively manages its human rights risks, especially as government procurement requirements integrate human rights considerations with greater frequency
  • Positive recognition: investors are increasingly concerned about human rights issues and also willing to acknowledge company efforts to address challenges
  • Growing disclosure requirements: national laws and stock exchanges are imposing greater demands on companies with regard to disclosure of their human rights management systems
4.
What are the existing regional mechanism, tools and initiatives that could be used to achieve the abolition of child labour and forced labour and youth employment creation? Do you think that it could be necessary to create new ones?
R.- There are numerous regional mechanism, tools and initiatives all over the world with regards to child labour, forced labour and youth employment. Instead of creating new mechanisms, tools and inititatives listing and coordination between them should be established. There is no coherency in a global level – within the UN system yet. We welcome the launch of the Alliance 8.7 within this regard and we participate and support its events.
5.
Do you think it is useful to link the labour market with the education system in order to generate more youth employment?
R.- Apprenticeships, internships, and vocational training are important tools to equip young people with skills relevant to job market requirements. Within this aspect please also refer to the work of the Global Apprenticeships Network (GAN) which was founded to creating job opportunities for youth and a skills base that matches demand. 
6.
What tools would be useful in order to contribute in the youth employment creation?
R.-
  • An enterprise- and business-friendly environment
  • Apprenticeships, internships, and vocational training are important tools to equip young people with skills relevant to job market requirements. Within this aspect please also refer to the work of the Global Apprenticeships Network (GAN).
  • Flexible forms of employment serve as crucial entry points for youth
  • Rigid labour market regulations for permanent contracts hinder transition from temporary to permanent work
  • Time-bound incentives targeting the most vulnerable youth in danger of long-term unemployment are important as they assist employers to mitigate the higher cost of employing low-skilled youth.
7.
Do you consider that the Latin America Initiative for the elimination of child labor can be taken as an example for new social dialogue processes and to achieve effective policy implementation?
R.- It is a great initiative to be welcomed and supported. We fully support the actions of the initiative and our members/partners involved in the initiative. Issues of child labour have similarities on different regions of the world. Tripartite dialogue through these initiatives are very positive developments.
8.
How do you think forced labor should be addressed during the Fourth Conference? Do you consider that it should include adults forced labour or child forced labour only?
R.- The ILO Governing Body Decision from the 328th Session clearly states that the Governing Body “welcomes the proposal made by the Argentinian Government to enlarge the scope of the IV Global Conference on Child Labour in 2017 to encompass the forced labour of adults in addition to all forms of child labour”. We respect the decision of the Governing Body and believe that the both significant issues should be dealt in carefully during the conference without any prevalence over one other. The scope of the conference should be limited with only these topics. Other issues such as human trafficking and modern slavery should not be specifically mentioned
8.
Do you consider that the Predictor Model would be useful to achieve the abolition of child labour?
R.- We need to be careful about the formation and the results of any predictor model with regards to child labour. I do not have the necessary details to determine whether a predictor model would be useful at this point. From my knowledge, such model is talked within the members of the regional initiative for Latin America. It is pertinent that any predictor model to be produced with regards to child labour should always take in consideration the views of the employer members and such indicators should not be used to interfere in to the functioning of the employers and reduce their competitiveness.