On the eve of the international day against child labour, South Africa has called for the redoubling of efforts to eliminate this practice that has robbed millions of their future in various forms.
Equally important the country has identified itself with the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) message of extending social protection to cushion the impact of child labour.
In a message to South Africa, Sipho Ndebele, chief director of international relations, who was speaking from Geneva - where he is attending the 103rd session of the ILO’s International Labour Conference - said: “the ILO is correct in saying social protection is both a human right and makes sound economic and social sense.”
“Social protection enables access to education, healthcare and nutrition and plays a critical role in the fight against child labour,” he said.
Ndebele said the latest ILO global child labour estimates showed that the number of child labourers has declined by one third since 2 000, from 246 million to 168 million. According to the ILO, the number of children in hazardous work stands at 85 million, down from 171 million in 2 000. Most of this advance was achieved between 2008 and 2012, when the global number fell by 47 million.
Ndebele said: “Despite this progress, according to the ILO, the 2016 target set by the international community for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour as a priority within the global fight for the eradication of all child labour, will not be met.”
He said hope for success lay in the intensification of efforts against this global scourge.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pelam, Director: media liaison
Cell: 082 808 2168
