GOVT ASKED TO BE TOUGH ON CHILD LABOUR

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is advising the Malawi government to be firm on issues of child labour in its policies if its win the fight against the malpractice.

FaceofMalawi speaking to ILO’s Khalid Hassan made the call during the launch of a five year strategic plan for Centre of Youth Empowerment and Civic Education in Lilongwe.

Hassan further said the need for the government to highlight issues of child labour in its policies which he said it is also an important aspect of development issue.

He wondered why the issues to do with child labour were not taken seriously in the country where a lot of children are involved in tobacco and tea farming rather than going to school.

The ILO child labour activities in Malawi are not sustainable because they are not directly targeted in the government policies.

However, director of youth development in the Ministry of Youth, McDavis Chiluzi, expressed government’s commitment to ensuring child protection saying there are a number of ministries working on such issues.