Position Paper

Country: Republic of Serbia

Committee: UNICEF
Topic: The Exploitation of Child Labour
Name: Wulan Anggit, Salsabil Febriliana

Introduction

The term “child labor” is often used interchangeably with “child work” without differentiating
between the two terms. However, there is a difference child labor refers to children’s work that is
banned by law whereas child work refers to children’s work that is permitted.1 Nearly a quarter of
a million children, or 16 out of every 100 children worldwide, are engaged in exploitative child
labour in violation of Convention on the Rights of the Child and international labour standards.
Almost three-quarters of them work in hazardous environments, such as mines or factories, or
with dangerous substances, such as chemicals.2

Serbia strongly belive that child labour is kind of inhumane actions. Child labor is a mainstream
case, but it still happens a lot. On 12 June 2017, ILO held a press conference to present the
results that the Republic of Serbia has achieved in the previous period in improving protection of
children from child labour.3 However, children in Serbia, particularly Roma children, continue to
engage in the worst forms of child labor, including forced begging and commercial sexual
exploitation. Therefore Serbia makes mechanisms to coordinate government effort on child
labour.

Mechanisms to Coordinate Government Efforts on Child Labour

 Council for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (Council)

Set government policies on anti-trafficking. Includes the Ministers from the Ministries of
Interior; Finance; Labor; Employment and Social Policy; Health; Justice; and Education.
Chaired by the Minister of Interior.4

1https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/child-labour/lang--en/index.htm
2https://www.unicef.org/education/index_focus_exploitation.html

3https://www.ilo.org/budapest/information-resources/press-releases/WCMS_559849/lang--en/index.htm

4
https://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/child-labor/findings/2013TDA/serbia.pdf
  Anti-Trafficking Coordinator
Implement the policies of the Council and coordinate day to day anti trafficking efforts
among various government agencies; cooperates with local NGOs. Appointed by the
Minister of Interior.4

Child labor has been a problem since a long time ago, but Serbia has recognized this problem.
Our children are the nation future, and children should not be working when they are too young.
Children should beat school and learn without worrying about their families.5

Serbia believes that there is a solution to this problem. One of solutions that Serbia comes up
with is making Policies Related to Child Labor and Government Social Programs to Address Child
Labour

Policy4

 Strategy for the Improvement of the Status of Roma in the Republic of Serbia (2009–
2015)
 Anti-Discrimination Strategy and Action Plan (2013–2018)
 Special Protocol on the Treatment of Trafficking Victims by Judicial Authoritie
 National Plan of Action for Children and General Protocol on Child Protection from
Abuse and Neglect (2005–2015)

Government Social Programs to Address Child Labour 4

 USDOL-Funded Programs
 Child Allowance Program
 Assistance to Roma Children in Education
 Strengthening the Identification and Protection of Victims of Trafficking

Another solution is the creation of schools in poor areas across the world, so that children can go
to school instead of working in factories. International law has been created and Serbia totally
support it. Serbia also concern with this issue. Serbia wants to be a part of solution, and Serbia
is calling all nations especially developed nations across the globe to be involved in order to find
a reliable and the best solution to this problem.

4
https://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/child-labor/findings/2013TDA/serbia.pdf
5www.ilo.org/public/english/download/glance.pdf