Over the past eight years the Ministry of Employment has dealt with 231 cases of child labour in the country
This was highlighted by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Osea Cawaru while opening the workshop on the 2019 World Day against Child Labour.
Cawaru says the current labour legislation, through the Employment Relations Act 2007 is being enforced by the Ministry to ensure no child is employed during school hours and officials carry out routine inspections, spot checks, awareness and advice on the importance of children being in school.
He says since 2011, all of the children involved in these 231 cases of child labour have returned to school.
Cawaru says some of these children are now enrolled into technical and vocational training programs.
He says this does not mean that all work done by children is child labour such as, assisting parents or guardian in backyard gardening.
Cawaru also stressed that school based activities like having school gardens and agricultural projects are not classified as child labour but is part of the students’ holistic education and learning development.
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