Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999

Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour
Party   Convention not in force   Convention not applied (dependent territory)   Non ILO-member
Signed	17 June 1999
Location	Geneva
Effective	19 November 2000
Condition	universal ratification by all 187 members of the UN International Labour Organization (ILO)
Parties	187[1]
Depositary	Director-General of the International Labour Office
Languages	English and French (Article 16)

The Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, known in short as the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, was adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1999 as ILO Convention No 182. It is one of eight ILO fundamental conventions.^[2]

By ratifying this Convention No. 182, a country commits itself to taking immediate action to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, child prostitution, use of children in criminal activities, and dangerous labour. The Convention is enjoying the fastest pace of ratifications in the ILO's history since 1919.^[3]

The ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) is responsible for assisting countries in this regard as well as monitoring compliance. One of the methods used by IPEC to assist countries in this regard are Time-bound Programmes.

The ILO also adopted the Worst Forms of Child Labour Recommendation No 190 in 1999. This recommendation contains, among others, recommendations on the types of hazards that should be considered for inclusion within a country-based definition of Worst Forms of Hazards faced by Children at Work.^[4]

Convention No 182 has been signed by all ILO Member States by 4 August 2020. This has become the fastest ratified agreement in the UN's 101-year history.^[1]