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Uganda: PlLA Rescues Child Labourers
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The Monitor (Kampala)
12 March 2008
Posted to the web 11 March 2008
Jane Nafula
Kampala
PLATFORM for Labour Action has rescued 20 child domestic workers from Katwe II parish, in Makindye division.
The children, majority of whom girls were rescued after a taskforce instituted by Platform for Labour Action (PLA) carried out a rescue search operation. PLA is an NGO that promotes and protects the rights of vulnerable and marginalised communities.The NGO uses messages of empowerment, action oriented research, policy dialogue and legal aid.
PLA's Executive Director, Ms Lilian Keene- Mugerwa, told journalists on Monday that the 20 rescued have been taken to various vocational training skills to acquire skills that will help them set up income generating activities.
Last week, the children received mattresses, suitcases, beddings, scholastics materials and tuition fees from PLA.
Ms Mugerwa said PLA has since 2005 been working with local leaders and other NGOs to rescue domestic child labourers.
The project targets 150 child workers and those who are at a risk of becoming child workers.
Ms Mugerwa said when the children are rescued, they are counseled and helped to return to school. Those who wish to go back home are re-united with their parents or relatives.
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The Chairman of Katwe I Parish, Mr Paul Lukombira Kabi said there were many domestic child labourers in his parish and most are exploited and sexually abused by their employers.
Mr Kabi also said most of the domestic child labourers are orphans and the situation is worsened by the brokers who take them to people in Kampala as housemaids.
He said most children hail from Masaka, Luweero, Jinja and Mbarara. Statistics at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development indicate that out of 2.7 million children in Uganda, 54 per cent are domestic workers.
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