The issue of child labor is an international issue. All countries throughout the world have signed an international convention about children right protection. The problem is that this agreement in most countries has become “Tiger on paper” where most nations that signed the agreement failed to respect their word. Despite the fact that they have pledged internationally, most of them labor children locally.
The 2018 International Labor Organization (ILO) report indicated that globally there are about 152 million children who are exposed to child labor of which 73 million are found under worst condition. These children are highly vulnerable to works that put their lives in danger.
Comparing with the total number of children, over 23 percent children in Ethiopia are engaged in child labor activities, as to the 2015 Central Statistics Agency National Survey report.
Household activities, small manufacturing industries, construction and agricultural works, hotel and service giving institutions and mining were found to be the major sectors that the report revealed as the sectors where children are exposed to labor.As to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, World’s Day against Child Labor is being celebrated today under the theme ‘Children should not work in fields but on dreams’.
MoLSA, Communication Director Representative, Bassazn Derebe, said that the day is marked together with Ethiopia’s Employers and Employees Association, Government executive bodies, Civic associations, local and international companies that mainly work on issues related to children.
As to him, the theme represents the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs). Especially, it advocates the goal 8.7 which aims at eradicating child labor by 2025 from the world.
Mentioning that National Children Policy, international conventions that the nation cascaded, laws and regulation that are being implemented in the nation needs active participation of the society, he noted. Without the active role of the society the desired goals cannot be fulfilled.
Kibiri Hailu, of Children Right, Safety and Awareness Director, at the Ministry of Women, Child and Youth said that shaping children personality, preventing and protecting them from any menace, as well as building rehabilitation center are the priority directions set and implemented by the government.
As to him, the problem of children is complex, Lack of awareness and poor economic status drives children to drop out of school and engaged in income generating activities at their early age. To curb this challenge and end child labor, the government is working persistently.
Along with Urban Food Security and Job Creation Agency, the Ministry provides support through government productive safety net programs mainly in urban and rural safety net programs.
Moreover, the government has set up Orphan and Vulnerable Children Program (OVC) to address poverty that compels children to mistreatment, he added. As to him, the program aims at supporting orphan Children and also those who are vulnerable to child labor, and others.
On the one hand, the rehabilitation center helps children who are already vulnerable to child labor or related problems to recuperate. Once the children have taken the therapy and got better are made to reunion with their families, he added.
Mentioning that the private sector takes the lion share in abusing child labor, he mentioned that poverty need for better life, peer pressure are few among the many factors that drive them to child labor.
The government has mainly emphasized on prevention activities to tackle the challenges. Comparing with the previous years, child labor has shown promising decrements, he stressed.
However, absence of law that controls the hiring of household employees is making the problem more complex. Thus, the government should set legal frameworks that manage the process of hiring domestic households.Celebrating such International Day against Child labor- is essential in making the government, community and concerned bodies conscious about the problem, he noted.
The Ethiopian Herald, June 12/2019
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
