The South African government firmly believes in the rights and well-being of our children- Minister Nxesi
Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi told the high-level side event to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, dubbed “Social Justice for All: How to End Child Labour” held alongside the #ILC2023 in Geneva today, 12 June 2023.
“Our stance on child labour is clear, it is a criminal offence to employ children when they should be at school. Childhood is a critical time for growth, learning, and development," Minister Nxesi said.
The Minister reminded the gathering that last year (2022), South Africa had the privilege of hosting the Fifth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour in partnership with the ILO.
"Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the conference brought together over 1,000 delegates, with an additional 7,000 participants joining online. We are eternally grateful for this important gesture," he said.
The attendees were reminded of the adoption of the Durban Call to Action by ILO member states and social partners. The Durban Call to Action outlines strong commitments to end child labour through making decent work a reality, ending child labour in agriculture, strengthening the prevention and elimination efforts, realising children's rights to education, achieving universal access to social protection, and increasing financing as well as international cooperation.
“These commitments reflect our collective determination to create a world free from child labour and promote social justice for all. The target of 2025 is just around the corner, so it is important that we ramp up our efforts to deal with this scourge and other indignities people experience while trying to earn a living,” Minister Nxesi continued.
Minister Nxesi however, emphasised that members should recognise that the journey to eliminate child labour is far from over. “The COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, and humanitarian crises threaten to reverse the progress we have made,” he said.
Nxesi further indicated that today, approximately 160 million children worldwide are still trapped in child labour, depriving them of education, opportunities, and rights.
He emphatically said “we must address the root causes of child labour, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of education while promoting decent work for adult workers”.
In line with the Durban Call to Action, Minister Nxesi suggested that ILO member states strive to implement strong legal frameworks, international labour standards, and social dialogue.
“Member states should also prioritise universal access to quality education and social protection, along with measures to alleviate poverty and economic insecurity. By addressing these fundamental issues, we can all eliminate child labour and create a just and equitable society.” Minister Nxesi said.
Minister Nxesi went further to call for commitment from member states. “As we gather here today, let us renew our commitment to this noble cause. Let us strengthen our partnerships and collective efforts to eradicate child labour and build a future where every child can grow, learn, and thrive.
Together, we can create a world that upholds social justice for all, leaving no child behind" he concluded.
For more information, contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
Email: Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za
