Colleagues
Representatives of the ILO,
Our social partners and civil society,
Members of the Child Labour Implementation Committee,
Our children
I would like to heartily welcome all of you to our Second commemoration of the National Day Against Child Labour.
Societies are considered decent and fair on the basis of their resolve to protect the vulnerable and the infirm especially the children. But the protection of children is not just for philanthropic reasons. It is for the self-preservation and the continuation of that society.
To say that children are the future is the self-evident truth. Moving from that premise, it then follows that need to protect, nurture, mentor and develop them to desired levels of growth so that they can assume responsibility of that future.
In helping us shape the society that we think of as decent, laws are designed to help us find our humanity. Conventions are agreed to. Our own Constitution places great emphasis on the dignity of man, woman and child irrespective of what class, creed or gender they are.
It is therefore correst of this government through the department of labour to help our nation in the aspirations to become better human beings. Indeed, the Freedom Charter was premised on the basis of fighting exploitation of man by man by seeking to entrench the notion of fairness, equality and justice.
The democratic South Africa therefore has joined the community of nations that places a great emphasis on protecting the vulnerable – especially the children.
It was with this in mind that in May 2010 South Africa became signatory to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Roadmap towards the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2016. Our congregating here today is a further commitment to this goal.
Since the first adoption of the Child Labour Programme of Action (CLPA) in 2003 significant progress has been made. There has been significant expansion of measures to relieve household poverty which is the main driver of child labour. Legislation to address child labour has been strengthened substantially.
The second phase of the CLPA adopted by Cabinet in February 2009 represents South Africa’s proposed actions enabling it to reach the 2016 target. It identifies a wide range of activities falling within the mandates of a wide range of Government departments and agencies. Most of these listed activities already form part of Government policy and confirm that these activities help to address the problems of child labour.
The department has just completed a consolidated progress report on the CLPA for Cabinet. This report reveals that Government and its partners have performed well in the areas of strengthening legislation, awareness raising, training and development of materials.
In 2010, Statistics South Africa conducted a second Survey of Activities of Young People (SAYP) as an add-on to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey. The data from this survey will be used to report against the indicators established for the monitoring of the CPLA therefore the department is proud to release the analysis this study today.
While there have been some changes in survey instrument over the years, analysis of the SAYP 2010 generally reveals patterns that are consistent with those shown by the two earlier surveys in 1999 and 2006.
The SAYP 2010 again suggests that while levels of engagement in market economic work are low and there seems to be limited impact on schooling, South Africa still does have issues to address in respect of child work and labour. For example, levels of engagement in non-market economic work – and in particular in fetching of fuel and water – remain high.
Children living in deep rural areas are more badly affected on virtually all other indicators than children in other areas. Children in commercial farming areas also fare badly on many indicators. In terms of population group, African children fare worse than others on virtually all indicators. To the extent that gender differences are seen, it is often girls who are at a greater disadvantage.
Finally, while the numbers involved in child labour are relatively low, and seem to have fallen over the years, the number affected – estimated at 821 000– is large in real terms. These children need our concerted action and protection and we dare not fail them.
The third phase of the CLPA which is currently being drafted will focus on service delivery and making a real difference in the lives of South Africa’s children.
Programme director
This day should serve as a sign of our commitment that we will do everything in our power to stop child labour. In addition, it will serve as a commitment not only of this government but by all of us that we will ensure that our children remain at school, that a child in need of care is provided for.
The theme that we have identified for this campaign says it all. Allow our children to play and through that learn. Allow our children the need and comfort of caring and through that build responsible citizens. Allow our children to be at school and through that secure our future but more importantly allow them to be children as once we were.
We do all of this because of our unshakeable belief in Ubuntu which tells us: “We Are Because You Are” and our belief that “My Child Is Your Child” and vice versa.
In conclusion, allow me ladies and gentleman to thank the officials from my department for the leading role which they continuously play in ensuring that child labour issues feature in our day to day interaction for us to contribute towards elimination of child labour in South Africa.
I thank you.
Address by the Minister of Labour the Honourable Mildred N Oliphant, MP at the National day against Child Labour celebration, Fairview Hotel and Conference Centre, Tzaneen, Limpopo
