12 June 2001,  Mr. Nieto Menéndez, Minister for Labour and Social Welfare, El Salvador
89th Session, 5 - 21 June 2001

International Labour Conference, Special High-level Session on the Launch of the Time Bound Programme on the Worst Forms of Child Labour in the Republic of El Salvador, the Kingdom of Nepal and the United Republic of Tanzania

The President of the Republic of El Salvador, Mr. Francisco Flores, regrets very much that he is unable to be present here today at the invitation of the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation, but the disasters resulting from the earthquakes of 13 January and 13 February meant that he could not leave the country. However, he does wish me to convey to you his warm greetings and his desire that the global programme that is being inaugurated in order to eliminate the worst forms of child labour should benefit from the support and commitment of the world's governments. We are convinced that our girls and boys represent not only the future of our countries but also the present and the future of humanity itself.
Our country duly ratified the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138). Since 1996, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, our country has been associated with the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. Consequently, we initiated direct action programmes to benefit our children who spent many hours in the mud, gathering bits of trash and who were forced to separate and collect recyclable material from rubbish dumps, who spent the entire day selling in the market, or who were forced to make fireworks, working with chemicals and explosives at serious risks to their health, their person and even their very lives. These direct action programmes have benefited more than 1,000 boys and girls who were previously forced to work for their own survival and that of their families.
The Government of El Salvador has also created a national policy for children and adolescents. The programme encompasses the commitment of the various competent institutions in the area of health, education and labour, working together on actions to eliminate child labour, with special priority given to those hazardous occupations that endanger the health, life and full development of our children. The Government of El Salvador, in support of this strategy during the International Labour Conference of 1999, firmly supported the development of a new Convention on child labour. It also quickly ratified the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182).
At the end of last year, the Government of El Salvador, speaking through me, expressed its staunch commitment to work to identify the worst forms of child labour, and design and implement a national strategy for its elimination. When we did so, we were aware that we were taking on a great challenge. But we were convinced - as we are now - that the international community committed to this global cause will give us their support in achieving this goal.
This willingness to get involved meant that El Salvador, together with Nepal and the United Republic of Tanzania, were selected as the first countries in the world to receive support from the United States Department of Labor so that, with IPEC assistance, they could develop and implement a time-bound programme for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.
The process of creating such a wide-ranging project, which includes representatives of the Government, workers and employers, as well as non-governmental organizations specialised in this area, was seriously hampered by the tragic earthquakes that struck on 13 January and 13 February this year, devastating a large part of the infrastructure of our country and forcing us to redefine our national priorities.
Nevertheless, despite the resulting difficulties, the Government of El Salvador remains steadfast in its commitment to work for the present and the future of our children. We are of course aware that we will have to redouble our efforts and to remain ready, willing and anxious to work so that we can achieve the results we have hoped for.
I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the countries represented here to join us in this initiative and to provide their support for the national efforts made by countries such as ours which have waited on building a more worthy, just and participatory society.
We are aware of our limitations and know that our difficulties have increased as a result of the natural disasters but we also know and trust in the abilities and devotion of our people who work hard every day to build a peaceful and progressive country.
Now is the time for all those who have not as yet joined in the global cause of combating the worst forms of child labour to do so, so that together we can do our best and draw on our efforts to achieve this common goal. We are convinced that the smiles of our boys and girls are worth any sacrifice. We are doing everything within our power and we are certain that we have the support of all of you.