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The Effect of ILO Minimum Age Conventions on Child Labour and School Attendance

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  • Boockmann, Bernhard

Abstract

Child labour has always been one of the core concerns of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In this paper, we investigate whether ILO conventions have contributed to reducing the scale of the problem. We use two approaches to answering the question. Evidence based on country-level data shows that, by 1990, countries having ratified ILO conventions were in no different position concerning child labour than nonratifying states. Using individual-level data on school attendance from the 1990s, there is little evidence for an increase in school attendance for children protected by ILO convention No. 138 as compared to unprotected children.

Suggested Citation

  • Boockmann, Bernhard, 2004. "The Effect of ILO Minimum Age Conventions on Child Labour and School Attendance," ZEW Discussion Papers 04-52, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:2190
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child labour; school attendance; international labour standards; ILO;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations
    • J82 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Labor Force Composition

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