MEP Asimakopoulou co-chaired a high-level public hearing at the European Parliament today, which delivered renewed impetus to the principled endeavour of tackling child labour in developing countries. The distinguished panel included representatives from international organisations such as the ILO and FAO, civil society, and from African governments including the Ivorian Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Adama Kamara.

2021 is the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour and MEP Asimakopoulou opened the debate by highlighting the need to protect vulnerable children that are at risk of becoming victims of child labour. She also stressed that the European Union’s development policy and trade agreements can be utilized together to better address the root causes of child labour.

MEP Asimakopoulou echoed European Commission President Von der Leyen’s call for a zero-tolerance approach to child labour in order to eradicate it by 2025. In addition, she referenced upcoming EU legislation on due diligence as one area where the EU is trying to ensure that the products of child labour do not enter EU supply chains.

MEP Asimakopoulou in her opening remarks declared that “President Von der Leyen has underlined the importance of a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to eradicating child labour. If we are to meet global targets to eradicate child labour by 2025, zero-tolerance is the only way forward”.

MEP Asimakopoulou stated that “development projects and financial aid are of course vital to tackling child labour, but our trade policy can play a big role too. New EU legislation on due diligence can help to ensure that the products of child labour are kept out of our global trade supply chains. We need to make this a priority”.