European Trade Union Committee for Education

The major problem the country faces is persistent child labour. According to "Save the Children" the international organisation for the promotion of children's rights, Tajik children end up dropping out of school and engaging in the worst forms of child labour. Many children are forced to work in order to support their families. Approximately 200,000 children aged 10 to 14 are involved in child labour, while 65,000 are even working for no remuneration. 10% of these children do not study.

For several years, our member organisation in Tajikistan has been cooperating with the International Labour Organisation's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).

Within the project on "Eliminating child labour in the Republic of Tajikistan" two methodical manuals were developed. "The first methodical manual was intended for a one hour lesson in forms 5 to9. The second manual was intended for teachers who follow professional development courses and emphasizes the crucial role of teachers in the elimination of child labour. The manuals were approved by the College of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan which obliges all schools, regardless of their form of ownership to organise this lesson.  This topic was also included in the educational programme of the National Teacher Training Institute, "explains the Senior International Relations responsible of the trade union, Mrs. Nozakova.

In strong cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Tajik Parliament approved TUEST's proposal and adopted the article on "Elimination of the worst forms of child labour" into the education law in 2013. Also the representative of the trade union is a member of the national Coordinating Council on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. In the development of the national action plan for the period 2015-2025, according to the official data, 52,000 children in Tajikistan are involved in the worst forms of child labour.

Together with the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, TUEST takes comprehensive efforts to stop child labour in the country.  The workshops on 'Child labour' are to be conducted within the EI/ETUCE Central Asia Consortium Project in the nearest future.

For more information see: http://www.asiaplus.tj/en/news/tajikistan-approves-national-program-elimination-worst-forms-child-labor-2015-2020

and http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/start/countries/tajikistan