Kari Tapiola has been with the ILO since 1996. The Finnish labour expert and former unionist served as Deputy Director-General and Executive Director from 1996 to 2010. Since October 2010 he has been Special Adviser to the Director-General of the ILO.

Kari Tapiola worked in Finland as a journalist (1966-1972) and as the Political Secretary of the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1972. He was International Secretary of the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) in 1972. Before joining the Office Mr. Tapiola was a member of the ILO’s Governing Body, representing the Nordic Workers, for five years. He attended his first International Labour Conference as a Workers’ delegate of Finland in 1974. In the Conferences 1991-1996 he was Workers’ Vice-President of the Resolutions Committee.

In this 7th part of our interview, Mr. Tapiola talks about two resolutions that were adopted by the ILO to regulate child labour: Convention n°138 of 1973 and Convention n°182 of 1999. Convention n°138 aims "to raise progressively the minimum age for admission to employment or work". Convention n° 182 seeks the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

In this 7th part, we also discuss the issue of India. Mr. Tapiola evokes the visit of the German minister Norbert Blüm to India, which was followed by a very critical report from the same minister and the reaction of the Indian government that followed.

To listen to the 8th part, click on this link.

Photo of an Indian child labourer in 2021 courtesy of the ILO.