On Friday, June 12, the world marked international day against child labour. It was a day of reflection on the menace and its effect on the children who are denied right to education and social justice. Senior Correspondent, ONYEWUCHI OJINNAKA, reflects on the plight of children under labour bondage, as well as the concern of international community and organisations.
The 2015 edition of World Day Against Child Labour was observed on June 12 by the international community, with the theme, ‘No To Child Labour, Yes to Quality Education’.
In a statement released to mark the day, the United States Department of State observed a growing consensus and commitment to ending exploitative child labour around the world.
In a statement credited to the Department spokesperson, John Kirby, “more children are in schools today than ever before, because the international community understands that moving children from the workforce to the schoolhouse is a better way to build thriving societies that respect basic human dignity.”
He added: “We celebrate with our partners in civil society who have so bravely championed the mission to end child labour. This past year, the Nobel Committee highlighted the importance of combating child labour by awarding the Peace Prize to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai for their efforts to end the exploitation of children and to bring education to all children, regardless of class or gender.
“Every day our diplomats around the world advocate for basic human rights, and champions from civil society change people’s understanding of what children have the right to expect from the world around them.”
However, despite the progress, Kirby disclosed that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says about 120 million children between the ages of five and 14 are still involved in child labour.
He reiterated the resolve of the U.S. Department of State to continue to push for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour with every tool available, including “our bilateral and multilateral engagement, technical assistance, reporting and good offices”, stressing that the solution to the challenge ultimately lies in decent work for families, respect for fundamental human rights, and supporting classrooms around the world.
Expressing concern over children under labour, Pope Francis drew attention to World Day Against Child Labour, saying: “So many children in the world do not have the freedom to play and go to school; they end up exploited as cheap labour.
“I hope that the international community will remain constantly committed to promoting the active recognition of children’s rights.”
Also joining its counterparts globally to mark the day, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) charged the federal government to evolve proactive measures and policies that would eliminate child labour in the country.
President of the congress, Ayuba Wabba, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Geneva that as Nigeria joined the global community to mark the day, it was imperative for the country to conform to the international standards as laid down by the ILO.
“This, therefore, means that we must also conform to international labour standard since there is already an instrument that is in place that will actually guide our action and inaction in that respect.
“Specifically, I am aware that precarious conditions which include child labour prevails in Nigeria and is one issue that has been a major concern. We have raised this issue over time, especially in making sure that we have labour inspectors that would be able to inspect those factories working through the sectorial unions to be able to address those issues. We remain committed to that,” Wabba said.
He noted that Nigeria is a signatory to ILO Convention on Child Labour and must abide by the rules and regulation of the convention. He assured that the Labour movement would continue to create awareness on the issue of Child Labour and would also proffer solutions on how the country would confront it.
In Nigeria and other parts of the world, children between the ages of five and 15 are subjected to various forced labour, such as hawking of packaged water and other drinks, nuts, fruits and other items on the highways and streets. Some are denied education and subjected perpetually to doing house chores and farm work.
In Cross River State, a non-governmental organisation, Mothers Against Child Abandonment (MACA), stressed that child labour deprives children access to quality education, adding that the growing incidence of child labour has continued to increase the menace of child abandonment, exploitation and neglect which has placed children as the most vulnerable in the society.
In her statement to mark the day, MACA’s executive director, Ndodeye Bassey-Obongha, called on governments, employers of labour, labour organisations, civil societies and individuals to double effort towards implementing the Child’s Right Law and other policies that would protect children from labour, assuring that MACA would remain committed to its mission of leading and facilitating collective action for the protection of all children in Nigeria.
According to her, MACA has initiated a bill calling for the creation of a Child Protection Commission in Cross River. She posited that when the commission is set up, it would assume full responsibility for the upkeep, education, upbringing and general welfare of vulnerable children or any child in the state for which no parent, guardian or adult has assumed proper care or responsibility. Besides, when the bill is passed into law, it will enforce implementation of the Child’s Rights Law, which was passed in the state in 2009.
