Published by the government of Zimbabwe
23 July 2008
Harare — PENALTIES against child labour are not deterrent enough in fighting the practice in the country, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Cde Nicholas Goche has said.
In a speech read on his behalf by his Secretary, Cde Lancaster Museka at a belated occasion to mark the World Day Against Child Labour held in Harare yesterday, Cde Goche called upon all stakeholders involved in fighting for children's rights to come up with effective ways of eliminating child labour.
"In the fight against child labour, it is clear that current interventions are not adequate. It is therefore incumbent upon us to find other viable means of complementing the measures as expressed in our legislation and the various international instruments on the rights of the child," Cde Goche said.
Currently, in terms of the Labour Act, it is a criminal offence to employ a person under the age of 15 for any duties.
The Act further makes it an offence to employ persons under the age of 18 to perform any work that is likely to affect the person's health, safety or morals.
Violation of these provisions is punishable by a fine or a custodial sentence.
Cde Goche said Government was committed to stopping child labour and eliminate its worst forms.
The commemoration coincided with the official launch of the survey on the worst forms of child labour.
The survey is part of a project involving Government and its partners aimed at finding effective ways to eliminate child labour in the country. The survey, which is expected to start on August 12 to September 17 this year in all provinces, is the first part of the coalition's response to child labour.
"The first phase is concerned with investigating the nature and extent of the worst forms of child labour," Cde Goche said.
Action to identify loopholes on worst cases against child labour will form the second phase of the project which is expected to run for three years starting in December this year.
Cde Goche called on Zimbabweans to co-operate with the enumerators who will be conducting the survey, as this will assist Government in formulating programmes to eradicate child labour.
"May I thus appeal to all stakeholders to co-operate with enumerators who are going to visit your homes, workplaces and even shopping centres countrywide, conducting interviews with working children and community leaders."
Speaking at the same occasion, United Nations representative in Zimbabwe, director of the International Labour Organisation, Professor Tayo Fashoyin said education is the right response to child labour.
He said most victims of child labour are rural children who have limited access to education.
Other senior officials who attended the occasion were, Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Dr Stephen Mahere, Harare Mayor, Mr Muchadeyi Masunda, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the Employer's Confederation of Zimbabwe representatives.
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this is a very interesting article but it is my opinion that it will be difficult to deal with child labour simply by putting in place harsh penalties. the solution is economic empowerment because most of the children who are abused are from very poor families who dont know about laws and are only keen on earning money for food. people at times go to their rural homes and get a niece/nephew or cousin saying they want to help them. in return that person will be asked to do some chores around the home, and as long as that person… [Read Full Text]