PAKISTAN: The Soccer Ball Industry

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PAKISTAN The Soccer Ball Industry
International Labor Organization
IPEC
International Program on the Elimination of Child
Labor
US Department of Labor
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Country Map
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Background

• Sialkot
• Population 2.6 million
• 1997-98 exported US 100 million-worth of soccer
  balls

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Background

• IPEC Survey 1996 found
• 3.3 million children between 5-14 employed full
  time
• 7,000 living working in Sialkot
• Of these, 66 illiterate

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Background

• MOU 1997 to develop plan of action
• Between Sialkot Chamber of Commerce Industry,
  ILO UNICEF
• Save the Children UK also member of partnership

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Objectives

• MOU aims
• To prevent progressively eliminate child labor
  in Sialkot
• To identify remove children under 14 provide
  education
• To facilitate changes in community family
  attitudes

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Process

• Involves 2 components
• Prevention monitoring
• Social protection

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Process

• Prevention monitoring
• Manufacturers undertake internal monitoring
  process
• IPEC carries out external monitoring

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Process

• Social protection rehabilitation program
• Prevention
• Rehabilitation
• Awareness raising

Undertaken by Bunyad Literacy Community Council
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Problems achievements

• By March 1999, 39 manufacturers joined the
  program
• September 1999, external evaluation recommended a
  2 year extension

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Problems achievements

• 65 manufacturers now involved
• IPEC monitors more than 1,799 stitching centers
• IPEC has begun area-based monitoring issues
  identification codes to all manufacturers
• Also monitors neighboring districts

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Problems achievements

• BLCC
• Has set up 185 centers at 113 locations
• Total of 6,019 children enrolled
• Developing programs for vocational skills
  training
• Initiated program for credit savings schemes

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Problems achievements

• IPEC will
• Consolidate internal external monitoring system
• Set up independent credible monitoring agency

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Lessons learned

• Partnership of international agencies, NGOs
  business communities essential
• Voluntary partnership makes stakeholders
  responsible
• IPEC monitoring worthwhile replicable
• Families communities seek further education

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IPEC International Program on the Elimination
of Child Labor