TRADITIONAL leaders have been urged to spearhead a campaign aimed at educating recipients of State grants to stop spending their money on alcohol.

The plea was made by Labour and Social Welfare Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko when he addressed the annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Windhoek this week.

"As we all know some pay points are situated close to shops and other public facilities," he said.

"It is therefore opportune for the shop owners to easily entice recipients of the grants to spend money on things like alcohol.

"The traditional leadership provides a primary layer of leadership in our country and should therefore provide advice to Government on how to tackle the problem," he said.

He reminded recipients of the social grants that the money given to them is collected from the rest of the population through taxes and, therefore, should be used wisely.

Ngatjizeko said his Ministry was also disturbed by reports that some sectors are profiting from child labour.

He said his Ministry recently investigated the occurrence of child labour in the agricultural sector and the findings are shocking.

"Both commercial and communal farming sectors are benefiting from the employment of children. Measures are now being considered so as to address the problem, including exposure of the guilty parties as well the laying of charges," Ngatjizeko said.

The Labour Act bans child labour and violators face a maximum fine of N$20 000, or imprisonment of up to four years, or both.