Child labour is a global issue that is present in varying degrees of intensity in both developed and developing countries. According to ILO estimates, there are over 250 million working children worldwide and about 120 million of them work on a full-time basis. It is believed that nearly one-third of the children working full time are engaged in hazardous occupations.

Incidence of child labour differs from region to region and country to country. The developed world is not totally free of child labour, but the largest number of child workers is concentrated in Asia and Africa because of rising poverty and declining economic growth. In developing countries, child labour is mostly found in agriculture and non-formal sectors.

Child labour is a complex problem. It is not a simple question of legislation and its enforcement. It has socio-economic causes peculiar to every society, which must be addressed if a long-term solution to the problem is to be found. It is a product of poverty, over-population, a lack of adequate educational facilities, rural-urban economic gap and income inequalities. Unless a comprehensive approach is adopted, the solution sometimes proves to be worse than the problem itself, as has been the case in some countries where children, driven from one industry by international pressure, end up in even more hazardous jobs.

Today, awareness of the child labour problem is very high at both government and private sector levels in developing countries. It is now recognised that a comprehensive approach is needed to address the issue in its multifarious forms and dimensions.

FIFA'S Role
Child labour is a complex socio-political phenomenon and as such, it is extremely difficult to combat. As a sporting organisation, FIFA has neither the experience nor the means to eradicate this wide-reaching problem on its own.

FIFA is fully aware of fair employment issues and pays special attention to them, and particularly to that of child labour. FIFA continually imposes strict contractual obligations on its partners in this respect and collaborates closely with official organisations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Furthermore, FIFA's relationship with the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) ensures that world football's governing body is associated with WFSGI programmes to prevent child labour, especially in Pakistan.

However, FIFA cannot dictate to the official organisations in charge of labour protection. Recent cases have also revealed that FIFA trademarks have often been unlawfully used on unofficial products (footballs) manufactured in strict violation of established Labour Laws. Such activities are evidently not under FIFA's control.

FIFA has a worldwide rights protection programme to try to eradicate the illegal trade in counterfeit products and the unauthorised use of trademarks and quality labels. By working in close cooperation with national authorities (police, customs, public prosecutor's offices), 810 separate cases of violations in relation to the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ were discovered in no fewer than 56 countries around the world.

The FIFA rights protection programme was expanded for the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, and as a result, the number of confiscated footballs in comparison to France 98™ rose by nearly 500%.

Each year, approximately 40 million footballs are sold around the world. However in 2001, only 1.6 million of these balls carried one of the official FIFA quality labels. In other words, FIFA's contractual agreements with manufacturers regarding the production of footballs cover merely 4% of annual sales.

Since 1 January 1996, only those outdoor footballs which have been tested, found to meet the demanding quality criteria and bearing either of the official markings are allowed to be used in FIFA competition matches and competition matches played under the auspices of the six continental confederations. As of 1 January 2000, quality testing and certification has also become compulsory for indoor footballs used in international matches under the auspices of FIFA or the confederations.

The FIFA Quality Concept

The FIFA Quality Concept is a testing programme for outdoor and indoor footballs. Manufacturers have the possibility to enter into a licence agreement for the use of two prestigious FIFA hallmarks on footballs that have passed the rigorous testing procedure. Licensees enjoy extensive trademark protection of the FIFA marks and benefit from comprehensive marketing services.

FIFA Approved - top quality footballs meeting FIFA's highest demands

FIFA Inspected - footballs for matches at all competitive levels

As an alternative, there is the possibility to use the wording "International Matchball Standard". Footballs bearing this designation have passed the same quality requirements as 'FIFA Inspected' footballs, but the use of this designation is not subject to a licence fee.

FIFA's commitment to social responsibility has come to the fore as part of its Quality Concept. Licensees are contractually obliged to ensure that no child labour is used in any stage of the manufacturing process and they have to pledge to comply with the following two declarations, which relate to the treatment of workers:

1. Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights At Work Adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO);

2. Code of Conduct of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI).

Of particular note is that in addition, FIFA requires that the manufacturers and distributors used by these licensees also comply with the same declarations.

Furthermore, licensees have to pledge their support for any initiative to end child labour in the football industry. Footballs bearing the FIFA Quality Marks are helping children worldwide. The net revenues from the project are made available to various children's projects, such as SOS Children's Villages and UNICEF as well as to financing the ILO-IPEC "Elimination of Child Labour in the Soccer Ball Industry in Sialkot, Pakistan" programme and its second phase, the ILO-FIFA "Promoting Sustainability and Reliability" programme.

Additional Information
Further information on the child labour issue as well as on FIFA's involvement and contribution to its eradication can be found at:

www.ilo.org
www.wfsgi.org