The International Labour Organization (ILO) seeks to collaborate with the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) in the implementation of the CAPSA program on Child Labour, Forced Labour and violation of acceptable conditions of work.
 
This comes against the backdrop of previous engagements conducted through the FKE for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Following which the Federation continued implementing interventions on Child Labour through the “Adopt a School” program after the project ended.
 
In a virtual meeting with a team from the Federation, Ms. Grace Banya, the ILO Project Manager, thanked FKE for its support and contribution during the project scoping and bidding stage of the program. She noted that the programme seeks to strengthen Kenya’s capacity to address child labour, forced labour, human trafficking and acceptable conditions of work. As a result, CAPSA will look into the legal frameworks and policies pertaining to Child Labour, forced labour and human trafficking, improve assistance services for victims of child labour and forced labour and lastly to strengthen partnerships to accelerate progress in addressing child labour, forced labour and violation of acceptable conditions of work.
 
“The overall strategy is to build a strong structure of partnership among government, social partners, civil society organisations and stakeholders. This will also be expanded by government both at the national and county levels,” she said.
 
Ms. Jacqueline Mugo, the Executive Director, FKE pledged the organisations broad support towards the programme. However, in view of the changing business landscape occasioned by Covid -19 she called for considerations in linking the programme to the emerging issues for real time business support and survival.
 
The ILO will engage with the Federation and the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) through consultations, strengthening social dialogue, advocacy for increased budget allocation for issues of child labour and human trafficking to ensure sustainability of the project. Both organizations agreed that anchoring the matters in government especially at county level will be significant. Further, cross cutting collaboration issues will be addressed including gender equality and promoting International Labour Standards.
 
The ILO team who will spearhead the project both in Kenya and Uganda comprise of Grace Banya, Project Manager, Antony Rutabanzibwa Partnerships & Engagement, Gracious Ndalama Monitoring and Evaluation.