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INFORMATION NOTE

Voluntary labelling programmes and child labour

1. During the recent discussions concerning child labour in the Governing Body and at the International Labour Conference, considerable attention has been given to the possible role of voluntary labelling programmes to support the elimination of child labour. There are at present a number of voluntary labelling programmes sponsored by private agencies, industry and trade representatives, non-governmental international organizations and governments, which are aimed at reducing the use of child labour in production, or at affecting in some way the conditions under which child labour is used.

2. The purpose of this note is to inform the Governing Body of the Director-General's decision to initiate a preliminary research study on the issue of voluntary labelling programmes and child labour. The objective of this study is to describe current labelling programmes and to review assessments that may be available of their effect on child labour and on industry and consumer behaviour in the industrialized and developing countries. This preliminary study is expected to be completed by June 1997 and will, in addition to providing a detailed review of existing programmes, provide the basis for possible proposals for further ILO research and activities in this field.

3. Members of the Governing Body are invited to draw the Office's attention to information on voluntary labelling programmes being carried out which they believe might usefully be included in the scope of this preliminary research study.

Geneva, 8 October 1996.