Right activists on Tuesday urged the government to include child domestic labour as ‘hazardous child labour’ as the government yet to recognise domestic labour as formal sector labour.
They raised their demand at a press conference organised by Save the Children prior to celebrate World Day against Child Labour at National Press Club in the city.This year the theme of the day is ‘No to Child Labour in Domestic Work.’
They said the government was yet to recognise domestic labour as formal sector labour and did not include it in the labour law.
At present the government identified 38 child labours which are risky for children, where domestic child labour is absent.
Joint secretary of labour and employment ministry M Mujibur Rahman said they had already got success to prevent child labour at the formal sector. ‘But this is yet to ensure for the informal sector.’
He said the ministry was actively considering the possibility of ratifying the International Labour Organisation convention 189 regarding child labour.
Mujibur Rahman said the government trained 40,000 child labourers while 10,000 more were under process for training at urban areas.
Around 32 lakh child labourers aged between five and 17 years work in various sectors, while 13 lakh are involved in risky and hazardous jobs, he said.
‘We are working to eradicate the high risky child labour form the country by 2016,’ he said.
At the programme the ministry officials blamed the other stakeholders for not enlisting the ‘domestic child labour’ in the list of hazarders work.
However, the right activists denied the blame and said they submitted
43 works to identify including the domestic child labour.
‘We want to include it as hazardous work,’ said Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the World Day against Child Labour, prime minister Sheikh Hasina issued a message and said her government has implemented National Child Labour Policy 2010.
‘Our social safety net programme has also successfully reduced risky and hazardous child labour’, she said.
Different organisations took elaborate programme to celebrate the day.
Bangladesh Shishu Odhikar Forum, Save the Children and Manusher Jonno Foundation will organise colourful procession, discussion programme and seminar with working children, their parents and community people today at different districts today.
A national seminar will organised at Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific auditorium in the city at 9:30am.
-With New Age input
