Over 1.4 million working children from five to 17 years old in the country are exposed to hazardous conditions.
This is according to last year’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) global report on Child labour.
Labour Minister Austin Liato noted that child labour is a social, human right, and economic issue which should be fought holistically.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Liato called on all stakeholders dealing in child welfare related issues including child labour activities to partner with Government in addressing the problems of child labour.
He stressed that the role of Government is mainly to provide policy direction and road map while stakeholders are the main actors and implementers of various child labour related programmes.
This was in a speech read for him by Labour Acting Permanent Secretary Arthur Chobe during the commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour in Lusaka today.
The Minister further announced that Government with its stakeholders created 22 District Child Labour Committees in all strategic districts covering all the nine provinces.
Mr. Liato explained that the structures are meant to engage all relevant stakeholders, Government institutions,and social partners in the fight against the scourge at District level.
He also noted that a statutory instrument on hazardous labour has also been developed and that it will be enforced once a legal opinion being sought from the Ministry of Justice is finalised.
Speaking on behalf of ILO Country Director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Martin Clemesson, ILO Area Office Director Johanna Silvarder noted that the ILO Convention No. 182 requires immediate action.
Mr Silvarder said the instrument does not allow exceptions and prohibits the engagement of children in exploitative forms of labour.
At the same event, Zambia Federation of Employers Mukubesa Sanyambe pointed out that Child labour issues should be everyone’s concern, especially countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where about 30 percent of the total number of working children are found.
[ ZANIS ]
Blame the parents. Don’t have children and let them roam the landscape like goats. It’s a parent’s job to protect the child.
ITS PARENTS AND GOVERMENT FAILIER THAT THESE CHILDERN ARE MADE TO WORK AS CHILD LABOUR. OUR LABOUR LAWS ARE NON EXISTING IN ZAMBIA AND WONDER WHAT THE MINISTR OF LABOUR THROUGH HIS MINISTRY.IN THE WESTERN COUNTRIES CHILD LABOUR IS NON EXISTING BECAUSE THE LAWS ARE VERY STRICT AND HOPE ZAMBIA CAN LEARN FROM THEM
SORRY FOR MISSING OUT A LINE, I MEANT TO SAY WHAT IS THE MINISTER LABOUR IS DOING THROUGH HIS MINISTRY
Where are the MMD cadres who said this report was rubbish and that no child works in Zambia crushing rocks or carrying water
If you cannot afford to take care of yourself marry not! And if you do have a wife do not bring children into this world if you cannot afford to feed or clothe them.