CHILD LABOR -- LAUNCH OF MAJOR USG-FUNDED PROJECT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001345 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, G/TIP, EAP/RSP, DRL (MMITTELHAUSER) NSC FOR EPHU DEPT OF LABOR FOR BSASSER, SHELLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ELAB ID SUBJECT: CHILD LABOR -- LAUNCH OF MAJOR USG-FUNDED PROJECT REF: A. JAKARTA 191 ¶B. (07) JAKARTA 3359 JAKARTA 00001345 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The International Labor Organization (ILO) on July 9 officially launched the second five-year phase of its anti-child labor project in Indonesia. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor/International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC). Both the Minister of Manpower and of Women's Empowerment gave opening remarks at the event. Labatt also gave opening remarks, underscoring the success of the USDOL-funded project in its first five years and how the second five years will more deeply address the most egregious child labor problems. END SUMMARY. KICKING OFF A NEW PHASE ¶2. (U) On July 9, Manpower Minister Erman Soeparno and Minister of Women's Empowerment Meutia Hatta opened an event held to publicize the start of the second phase of the USDOL-funded $5.55 million ILO/IPEC Project of Support to the Indonesia Time-bound Program on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor/International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC). ILO Indonesia Director Alan Boulton also addressed the gathering. SECOND PHASE ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSES ¶3. (U) Labatt spoke at the event. In his remarks, Labatt noted that during its first phase the project had made progress in withdrawing children from exploitative situations and raising awareness of the problem. The second phase of the project would delve even deeper into addressing root causes of the problem. Labatt noted that child labor in Indonesia has complex socio-economic roots and that this project addresses not just child labor but the causes related to education and poverty. He noted how child domestic labor and child trafficking are important problems that Indonesia needs to make further progress in addressing. ¶4. (U) In his remarks, Boulton of ILO thanked the USG for its focus on the problem and funding of the project. He explained that the project will target key problem sectors, including: child domestic labor; child trafficking for sexual exploitation; child labor in plantations; and, street children. The project will involve five key areas: North Sumatra, Lampung (Sumatra),Jakarta, West Java and East Java. The sectors and places were chosen to address the areas of serious child labor exploitation. GOI COOPERATION ¶5. (U) The two Ministers underlined the GOI's support for the project. The ILO, for example, will work with the Manpower Ministry in enforcing child labor laws and improving workplace conditions, while the Women's Empowerment Ministry is responsible for the social programs to protect children's rights as well as overall coordination of child welfare programs. In her remarks, Minister of Women's Empowerment Hatta's addressed the child labor issues in clear, critical terms, focusing at length on child trafficking. Minister of Manpower Soeparno also made strong points against child labor and in praise of the project. ¶6. (U) The Director General for Non-formal Education at the Education Ministry also attended the opening. Observers have noted that providing out-of-school and other informal means to educate children is crucial to the ILO approach to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, given the extreme poverty and inability of many families to afford education beyond the first six to eight years. A SOLID RECORD OF PROGRESS ¶7. (U) ILO's close cooperation with the Manpower Ministry JAKARTA 00001345 002.2 OF 002 has been a major breakthrough in promoting labor rights. Though the Ministry has a history of problems, child labor protection is an area in which it has made good progress, working with police to stop trafficking and eliminate child labor in some areas. Labatt and other Mission officials have visited many of the ILO child labor projects linked to the ILO-IPEC project and noted success in the places targeted. Mission continues to work closely with ILO and other international organizations to support the GOI and local NGOs in these efforts, and will continue to do this during the second phase of the large-scale project. HUME