Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) Project | 19 Aug 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have jointly launched the project titled Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW). 

• It will help create awareness and share technical know-how and knowledge about the best labour standards. 

What is ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) Project? 

• About FPRW Project: 
  • It is a commitment by governments, employers' and workers' organisations to uphold basic human values that are vital to our social and economic lives.  
  • The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) was adopted in 1998 and amended in 2022. 
  • Increasing concerns about the social impact of globalisation led the members of the ILO to recognize four categories of labour standards, expressed in eight conventions. 
  • In 2022, four categories were amended to become five categories with the addition of the occupation of safety and health conventions, expressed in ten conventions. 
• Five Categories of FPRW Project and Related Conventions: 
  • Freedom of Association and the Effective Recognition of the Right to Collective Bargaining: It is the prerogative of workers and employers alike to form and manage their own organisations, free from external interference. 
    • Through collective bargaining, employers and workers discuss and negotiate their relations, in particular terms and conditions of work. 
    • It is enforced by conventions like: 
      • Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87), 1948 
      • Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98), 1949. 
  • Elimination of All Forms of Forced or Compulsory Labour:  
    • Labour should freely join, and employees should be free to leave, subject to previous notice of reasonable length. 
    • It is enforced by conventions like: 
      • Forced Labour Convention (No. 29), 1930 
      • Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105), 1957. 
  • Effective Abolition of Child Labour:  
    • ILO Convention No. 138 (minimum age for entry into work or employment) and Convention No. 182 (Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour) set minimum age requirements for work, ensuring it is not below the age for compulsory schooling, and in any case not less than 15 years. 
    • It is enforced by conventions like: 
      • Minimum Age Convention (No. 138), 1973 
      • Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182), 1999. 
  • Elimination of Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation:  
    • Exclusion or preference should not be made on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin. 
    • It provides for equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value. 
    • It is enforced by conventions like: 
      • Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100), 1951 
      • Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No. 111), 1958. 
  • Safe and Healthy Working Environment:  
    • ILO Convention No. 155 aims to prevent workplace accidents and health issues, while No. 187 mandates continuous improvement in occupational safety and health to prevent injuries, diseases, and deaths. 
    • It is enforced by conventions like: 
      • Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155), 1981 
      • Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 187), 2006. 
• Need of FPRW for India: 
  • Non-Tariff Barrier to Trade: Cotton and hybrid cotton seeds from India continue to remain in the US Labour Department’s “List of Goods Produced by Child Labour or Forced Labour”. The FPRW project will help India ease this barrier to trade. 
  • Global Obligation: The FPRW Project of the ILO applies to all ILO member states whether they have ratified it or not. It is part and parcel of the ILO’s Constitution.  
    • Since India is a member of ILO, it was needed to comply with the FPRW Project. 
  • Sustainable Workforce: Cotton-growing communities can foster a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous environment for all workers, leading to long-term benefits for individuals and families. 
  • Socio-economic Upliftment: The collaboration will equip farmers with knowledge about various government schemes and initiatives aimed at their socio-economic upliftment. 
    • Outreach services, information dissemination and linkages with vocational training facilities for target communities can help in their betterment. 
    • It is necessary to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). 

What is Status of Child Labour in India? 

• According to the last available Census 2011, there were 10.1 million child labourers in India. 
• As per the National Crime Records Bureau Report 2022, in 2021, around 982 cases were registered under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, with the highest number of cases registered in Telangana, followed by Assam. 
• Initiatives Taken by Government to Curb Child Labour: 
  • Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986: Bans the employment of children below 14 years and adolescents below 18 years in hazardous occupations and processes. 
  • The Factories Act, 1948: Prohibits the employment of children below 14 years of age in any hazardous environment and restricts the working hours and conditions of adolescents (14 to 18 years) who are allowed to work only in non-hazardous processes. 
  • National Policy on Child Labour, 1987: Aims to eradicate child labour by prohibiting and regulating it, providing welfare and development programmes for children and their families, and ensuring the education and rehabilitation of working children. 
  • Pencil Portal: The platform aims at engaging the Central Government, State Government, District, civil society and the public in eradicating child labour to achieve the target of a child labour free society. It was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 
  • Ratifying conventions of the International Labour Organization:  India has also ratified two core conventions of the International Labour Organization on child labour in 2017 i.e., Minimum Age Convention (1973) No. 138 and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999) No. 182.

What is the Status of Cotton Farming in India? 

• About: 
  • Cotton is one of the most important commercial crops cultivated in India and accounted for around 23% of the total global cotton production in 2022-23 .  
    • It plays a major role in sustaining the livelihood of an estimated 6 million cotton farmers and 40-50 million people engaged in related activities such as cotton processing and trade. 
  • Due to its economic importance in India, it is also termed as “White-Gold”. 
• National Scenario: 
  • Acreage under Cotton: In 2022-23, India ranked first globally in cotton acreage with 130.61 lakh hectares area under cotton cultivation i.e., around 40% of world area of 324.16 lakh hectares.  
    • Approximately 67% of India's cotton is produced on rain-fed areas and 33% on irrigated lands. 
  • Cotton Yield: In terms of productivity, India is on 39th rank with a yield of 447 kg/ha. 
  • Cotton Types: India is the only country which grows all four species of cotton i.e., G. Arboreum and G. Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G. Barbadense (Egyptian cotton) and G. Hirsutum (American Upland cotton).  
    • G. Hirsutum represents 90% of the hybrid cotton production in India and all the current Bt cotton hybrids are G. Hirsutuim. 
  • Production: India is having 2nd place in the world with estimated production of 343.47 lakh bales during cotton season 2022-23 i.e., 23.83% of world cotton production. 
  • Production Pattern: Majority of cotton production comes from 9 major cotton growing states, which are grouped into three diverse agro-ecological zones, as under: 
    • Northern Zone: Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan 
    • Central Zone: Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh 
    • Southern Zone: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. 
  • Consumption: India is also the 2nd largest consumer of cotton in the world with estimated consumption of 311 lakh bales (5.29 Million Metric Tonnes). 
    • It accounts for 22.24% of world cotton consumption of 1399 lakh bales (23.79 Million Metric Tonnes).  
  • Import and Export of cotton: India is one of the largest exporters of cotton i.e., 6% of world export of 528 lakh bales (8.98 Million Metric Tonnes) in 2022-23. 
    • Less than 10% of the total consumption of cotton in India is imported by the textile industry to meet their specific requirement.

What are the Reasons and Solutions for Child Labour in the Cotton Industry in India?

• Reasons:
  • Cheap and Compliant Labour: Children are often paid less than adults (or unpaid) and have weaker negotiating power as well as being often perceived as more submissive workers.
  • “Nimble Fingers” Myth: Employers claim that the tasks of cross-pollination, emasculation and hand-pollination are best undertaken by pre-pubescent, female children. 
    • There is a perception that children’s small hands and bodies are better for tasks such as weeding.
  • Unskilled Work: Cotton farming is largely a unskilled work where certain physical attributes such as small stature and agility increase the demand for child labour. 
  • Social Norms: Children are often expected to follow in their parents’ footsteps and are frequently summoned to “help” other members of the family, often at a young age.
• Way Forward:
  • National Legislation: Governments should translate the content of international treaties and conventions that they have ratified into national legislation. 
    • In addition, governments should ensure that labour laws are implemented and enforced.
  • Sustainable Business Practices: Companies should act with due diligence across all its business operations, including at the level of suppliers and subcontractors.
    • Eliminating and preventing child labour need to be included in this effort.
  • Transparency and Traceability: Brands and retailers should focus on gaining full understanding of their supply chains. 
    • It includes informal sector and homeworkers where the bulk of child labour occurs.
    • Governments on the buying end of the supply chain should curb the import of products made with child labour.
  • Substitution of Workforce: Labour can be substituted with machines for efficient functioning. Substituted labourforce should be reskilled to make them employable in other economic sectors.