Child labour and the International Labour Organization's Convention 182: a critical perspective

'Child labour' is a worldwide problem that has caused detrimental effects to children's health and well-being. The ILO Convention 182 aims to address this issue by immediately eliminating its worst forms. This article provides a discourse analysis of this Convention. The analysis suggests that using an organizational discourse, the Convention promotes the maintenance of existing hierarchies of power, primarily through emphasis on legislative structures and consultation with the Organization of Employers and Workers. It has been recommended that the Convention be revised in light of the insights generated by the analysis and that the children be given a more active role in the process.