the report of the pilot project - International Labour Organization

Report of the Pilot Research Project on Children Working in Cultural and Artistic Activities
There must be a commission to follow up the implementation of this legislation. This
commission must closely and systematically scrutinize the working conditions of child actors.
The commission must include experts and professionals competent in child development
issues and in arranging working conditions and arrangements according to the needs of the
child (i.e. psychologist, acting coach, child development expert, creative drama leader, etc.),
psychologist, acting coach, child development specialist, creative drama leader etc.),
A team of experts should also be present in sets,
Working hours of child actors must be shortened and there must be no night time work for
child actors,
Child actors’ families must be present in fi lming locations, sets, etc.
There must be facilities like crèches, resting spaces, playing rooms etc. in sets,
Children should not be employed in adverse and extremely diffi cult environments (i.e. extreme
hot and cold environments),
Child actors’ families must be extended psychological support,
Acts in shooting environments must be child-centred (providing special meals for the child,
stopping work when the child gets in stress etc.),
Scripts should observe child’s developmental needs.
The opinion of AA 1 on this issue is as follows: “The legislation should provide for a psychologist and
pedagogue accompanying a child actor. Employment should be subject to the will and approval of the
child. Otherwise it should be banned and parents should be held accountable for forcing children to
act against their will. Legislative arrangement should also provide for social security. There should
be more serious sanctions applicable to producers and TV channels as employers. There is need for
an approach that def ends the rights of working persons before the employer and place the matter
on to more humane grounds. In case there is no legislative arrangement, then use of children in such
activities must be banned.”
Apart from all these, all adult actors state that stage plays as an artistic and cultural activity should
be distinguished from the sector of TV series, movies and commercials and that early engagement
in drama in this sense has its positive effects on all areas of child development. Here is what AA
3 says: “It is quite diffi cult for children to work in the TV series sector, but I don’t think the same
for stage plays. Theatre is different from other activities in the sector. Last year I was in the State
Theatre with my 6 years old child and faced no problem. I think drama acting is useful for my child’s
socialization. On the same issue AA 5 says: “When you say theatre, it includes the drama part as
well. It is an important branch for the development and socialization of the child. Yes, children must
be involved in drama and stage play, but it is too diffi cult in TV series, movies and commercials.” AA
4: “Firstly, stage play and drama are both courses in schools and from my point of view they
are highly valuable when it comes to child’s personal development, socialization and self-expression.
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