labour
11 June 2007
This year's World Day Against Child Labour on Tuesday, 12 June, is to focus
on the elimination of child labour in agriculture which accounts for a
staggering percentage of the world's working children. The scourge is one of
the most dangerous forms of work for children.
The ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC)
estimates that over 100 million boys and girls aged five to 14 works as child
labourers on farms and plantations the world over. More than 50 million are in
sub-Saharan Africa.
The children are often exposed to hazards and risks entailed in the mixing,
handling and applying of toxic pesticides, the use of dangerous cutting tools,
working in extreme temperatures and operating powerful farm vehicles and heavy
machinery.
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, who is attending the International
Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva says, "Not all working children working in
agriculture can be considered child labourers under the terms of ILO
conventions number 138 and number 182 if they perform tasks appropriate to a
child's age and that are normal part of growing up in a rural environment."
"Children must be given the opportunity to develop. Anything harmful to
their development is regarded as child labour. We are intensifying efforts to
stamp out the scourge on South African farms and we take tough action against
offenders," said Minister Mdladlana.
To strengthen the worldwide movement against child labour, delegates at the
ILC will witness the launch of a new partnership on Tuesday between the ILO and
five internationally based organisations: the Food and Agricultural
Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),
the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) of the Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Federation of
Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and the International Union of Food,
Agricultural, Hostel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers'
Association (IUF).
The aim of this new partnership will be to develop common policies,
programmes and activities at international and national levels against child
labour in agriculture.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
E-mail: Zolisa.Sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
11 June 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za/)
