Problems of International Legal Regulation of Protection of Labor Rights of Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The article encompases the analysis of international legal acts that regulate labor relations of children and adolescents, as well as the problems of their international legal protection. It is proved that child labor is considered as work, the performance of which is harmful and dangerous for the child and is prohibited by international and national law. The differences over the definition of child labor and child labor are emphasized. It is noted that the concept of child labor includes a negative meaning, and child labor involves the legal use of children's labor in compliance with their labor rights and freedoms. The analysis of the main components of the categories of child labor is carried out: the performance of work by a child who has reached the minimum age in accordance with the national legislation of the state and the worst forms of child labor. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the ILO's approach to the problem of establishing a boundary between acceptable and unacceptable work: the performance by children and adolescents of work that affects their health and development that does not interfere with education is recognized as a positive phenomenon. It is noted that the provisions of the ILO International Program on the Abolition of IPEC Child Labor are of great importance for all countries, as they are implemented in close cooperation with the authorities, their main goal is the constant intolerance of all countries to the worst forms of child labor. The causes of child labor and their consequences are determined, the priority directions of child labor eradication are indicated. It is concluded that the involvement of children in work can affect not only the moral indicators, the level of education in the country, but also the economic weakness of states. The task of the world community in the near future is to eradicate all forms of child and adolescent work as soon as possible within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. States' ratifications of ILO conventions on children should be the basis for national mechanisms to protect the labor rights of children and adolescents.