Tonga's ratification yesterday, has made the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour the first labour convention ever to be ratified by all the member states. Tonga was the last to ratify.

Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour achieved universal ratification, after Tonga Ambassador  Hon. Titilupe Fanetupouvava’u Tu’ivakano formally deposited Tonga’s ratification instrument with Director-General, Guy Ryder on 4 August 2020, London, UK. He said it was the first time in the ILO’s history, that an International Labour Convention had been ratified by all the 187 member States.

The Convention is also the most rapidly ratified Convention in the history of the organization, since its adoption 21 years ago by the International Labour Conference.

“Universal ratification of Convention 182 is an historic first that means that all children now have legal protection against the worst forms of child labour,” Mr Ryder said.

“It reflects a global commitment that the worst forms of child labour, such as slavery, sexual exploitation, the use of children in armed conflict or other illicit or hazardous work that compromises children’s health, morals or psychological wellbeing, have no place in our society.”

It is one of the ILO’S eight Fundamental Conventions.

“Ending child labour by 2025 in all its forms” is included under Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by all UN member States in 2015.

This landmark achievement comes just months before the start of the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour in 2021, to be led by the ILO in collaboration with partners. Its aim is to raise awareness of the issue and to help accelerate the pace of progress.

Convention No. 182 calls for the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, forced labour and trafficking. It prohibits the use of children in armed conflict, prostitution, pornography and illicit activities such as drug trafficking, and in hazardous work.