The Community Child Labour Committee in Namalomba Community in Kaoma district says it has managed to withdraw over 500 children from child labour activities and early marriages.
CCLM Committee Chairperson says the committee has been sensitizing and making follow ups of the children that have been withdrawn from child labour.
Mr. Miyo also stated that the self-help groups have been formulated Namalomba community catering for a community that has over 3,000 members.
The committee made these submissions when a team from Ministry of Labour paid a courtesy call on them today to check on the progress made from the Arise Zambia project meant to withdraw and integrate in school children that have been victims of child labour.
The committee chairperson who said the team has been in existence since May 2017, further noted that 67 girls have been prevented from engaging in early marriages while seven have been enrolled at Kaoma Trades School pursing different skills ranging from carpentry to tailoring.
Mr. Miyo also stated that the committee has been facing challenges of retaining the withdrawn children into teriary education due to sponsorship delays.
He further appealed to the funders of the project, the International Labour Organisation and the Young Women Christian Association and the Japanese Tobacco international Company to also look into the current transport challenges being faced especially during the rainy season.
And Ministry of Labour Principal Labour Officer Joseph Kaindama who spoke on behalf of the Labour Commission, Chanda Kaziya, commended the committee for retaining the over 500 children in just a year’s period.
He further assured the committee of support and further affirmed that their challenges will be tabled and lookef into with the funders.
Meanwhile, JTI Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer Corporate Development, Nicholas Chitulangoma, said his company is committed to support the Arise Zambia Project in ensuring that children are retained in school and also to ensure that JTI offers employment to parents of the children for sustainability.
Mr.Chitulangoma further noted that JTI also promotes child rights by ensuring that children are not taken to work in tobacco fields in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and the church.
The meeting was held in readiness for the ILO delegation expected to visit Nkeyema and Kaoma districts on Tuesday and Wednesday this week to access whether tobacco companies should continue funding the Arise Project.
