'Eliminate worst forms of child labour'

12 June 2010, 18:00 PM

DU Correspondent

Elimination of the worst forms of child labour is the most urgent task Bangladesh should undertake in line with the new national child labour elimination policy, said speakers at a seminar yesterday. A social movement should be forged across the country against child labour, the speakers told the seminar styled National Child Labour Elimination Policy and Next Steps held at the BIAM auditorium in the city. The labour and employment ministry, International Labor Organisation and Unicef jointly organised the seminar marking the World Day Against Child Labour. Speaking as the chief guest, Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said elimination of poverty and ensuring education for every child are essential to overcome the trend of involving children in vulnerable jobs. "No parents want to push their children into vulnerable work. But they do it being the victims of the situation," the minister told reporters after the seminar. Replying to a query, Mosharraf said the government has already revised the Child Labour Act, 2006 and it would be placed before parliament in next session. He said bringing every child under the education net should be the prime target to curb the years-long poverty in the society. On the child labour policy adopted by the government in March this year, he said, "This policy is well complemented by the recently adopted national education policy, which is extending free compulsory education till class eight." ILO Director in Dhaka Gagan Rajbhandari, government officials and Unicef representative were present. The labour and employment minister also inaugurated a countrywide campaign against child labour. The Unicef, with technical support from ILO, is supporting this campaign, which will disseminate messages through national media, interactive popular theatre, posters, leaflets, social mobilisation activities and school debates. According to the national child labour survey in 2003, the most common reason for a child not to be enrolled at school is inability to bear educational expenses. The second most common reason is the child's participation in household economic activities. 13 LAKH CHILDREN IN VULNERABLE JOBS There are around one crore child labourers engaged in various forms of work, said speakers of a separate discussion. Of them, nearly 13 lakh children are involved in vulnerable jobs in the country, they said. They called upon the government to establish a strong social safety net, ensure education for all children and rehabilitate street and rootless children to eliminate the trend of using children in vulnerable jobs. Bangladesh National Council of Textile Garments and Leather Workers arranged the discussion in the city, says a press release. Human chain Child workers observed the World Day Against Child Labour yesterday with a call to eliminate worst forms of child labour. They also took part in an art competition, discussion and cultural events organised by the Voluntary Association for Family Welfare and Social Development (VAFWSD) in association with the Manusher Jonno Foundation at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the city. Child workers from automobile and welding workshops and other establishments also formed a human chain near the IEB, says a press release. Media personality M Hamid, cultural activists, owners of welding workshops attended the programmes presided over by VAFWSD chief executive Dr Abdul Qaiyum Laskar. Speaking on the occasion, M Hamid called on the children to study alongside their work. He also called upon the owner of different institutions not to involve children in hazardous jobs.