A strategy for action is approved

The first ever workshop on child labour in tobacco-growing in Mozambique was held from 12 to 14 May 2004 in Chimoio, Manica province. It was organised by the ECLT Foundation and the Maputo-based Foundation for Community Development (FDC), which is presided by Ms Machel-Mandela. More than 80 participants took part in this event: small-holder farmers, commercial farmers, trade unions, national and provincial governmental officials, NGOs and tobacco companies. The UN International Labour Organisation sent a representative from its regional office in Nairobi. The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations was represented by its African regional secretary. The Brazilian Tobacco Growers' Association (Afubra) sent a representative to share its 4-year experience in dealing with child labour.

Following two days of intense debate, there was a widespread recognition that child labour exists in Mozambican tobacco-growing and that the issue needs to be properly addressed. Commercial farmers pledged not to employ labour below the age of 18. Tobacco companies reasserted their policies on corporate social responsibility, especially regarding child labour. Whereas small-holder farmers acknowledged that they often ask their own children to perform labour within the family farm, they insisted that they were faced with no other options, given their lack of financial resources to employ adult workers. They also expressed the need to create a stronger association to represent their own interests.

Discussion on how to reduce the number of child labourers included such themes as raising awareness on child labour, improving access to education, setting up vocational schools, and improving the farmers' livelihoods and living conditions.

As the main outcome of this workshop, participants agreed to elaborate a joint-strategy for action, which will group all concerned stakeholders: government, the tobacco industry, small-holder and commercial farmers, trade unions and civil society. A first meeting is to be organised in the coming weeks and will help in defining a strategy and a plan of action to address concretely the situation in Manica province. A similar process is to follow in Tete province. If this strategy proves successful, it will be duplicated to the other tobacco-growing provinces of Mozambique.

The ECLT Foundation is happy to have helped raising the issue of child labour into the public domain. Together with its Mozambican partner, FDC, it will actively support the process that has started in Mozambique.

Geneva, 18 May 2004