Child labour laws to be updated

Child labour laws to be updated
Says law minister
The government will update the existing labour laws to stop children doing hazardous jobs, said Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday.
Since many families depend on the incomes of their children, child labour should not be stopped straightaway enacting any law, he said, adding that the government is trying to rehabilitate the poor children, who are engaged in different jobs, by creating facilities for their education and financial development.
He was speaking as the chief guest at a meeting organised by Disadvantaged Adolescents’ Working NGOs (DAWN) Forum marking the World Child Labour Resistance Day, 2009, at Dhaka Mohanagar Natya Mancha.
Presided over by DAWN Forum Chairperson Gulshan Ara Chowdhury, the meeting was addressed by parliament members Meher Afroz Chumki and Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, International Labour Organisation (ILO) official Jamil Chowdhury, Executive Director of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Ehsanur Rahman and DAWN Forum General Secretary Kazi Baby.
Bangladesh University Faculty member Begum Nilufar presented the keynote paper at the function.
The law minister said many children are engaged in hazardous jobs at minimum wage. The employers should be discouraged to engage children in such work, he said, adding that the present government has pledged to improve the condition of women and children in the country.
He said poverty is the main reason of child labour, which is a serious problem in the country. “An amount of money has been allocated in the proposed budget for the development of disabled women and children,” he added.
He urged people not to torture their house servants.
Meher Afroz Chumki and Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury stressed the need for establishing the rights of women and children.
Different cultural programmes were held there throughout the day. The programmes were attended by around 700 children and juveniles and representatives of different public and private organisations.

Courtesy of The Daily Star