Francine Black, Staff Reporter
'STOP CHILD Domestic Labour' is the theme for the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) third celebration of World Day Against Child Labour, which is being observed today.
The emphasis on child labour continues to be an issue of international importance as, according to a new report from ILO, millions of children are currently engaged in domestic child labour across the globe.
"Child labour is a widespread and growing phenomenon that traps as many as 10 million children or more mostly girls in hidden forms of exploitation, often involving abuse, health risks and violence," a release from ILO said.
"Child domestic labour is a waste of human talent and potential, said Frans Roselaers, director of the ILO International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. With the help of constructive and sustainable solutions from the ILO technical co-operation programme, governments, employers and workers worldwide stand ready to put an end to this abuse," he said.
Glenda Drummond, executive director of the Western Society for the Upliftment of Children, noted that child labour continues to be an important issue that is often viewed as mild by the society.
RISK CHILDREN
"For us, it is not a big issue. In our culture we do not even look at it as an issue," she said.
The organisation seeks to rehabilitate street, working and at risk children in Montego Bay, St. James where child labour is said to be prevalent.
Mrs. Drummond estimates that there are more than 1,000 child workers in Montego Bay alone. However, she noted that there are girls who work in households taking care of their siblings and children in rural areas who work on farms and do not attend school who would also qualify as child workers.
The 2002 report on the National Survey of Street and Working Children, released by the Ministry of Health's Child Support Unit, states that there were at least 2,818 street and working children in Kingston, Montego Bay and Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The total number of child labourers, however, may be as high as 6,448, the report said.
Several interventions have been devised locally to curb the spread of child labour. The ILO technical co-operation programme, to eliminate the practice, is one such programme which is being implemented by the Ministry of Labour.
The programme which commenced in October 2001 sought to remove 600 child workers off the streets. It has, however, so far, successfully removed 1,200 children.
The programme ends this month and policy makers are now examining ways to see if it can be extended.
There are 10 million child workers worldwide according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).Most child labourers are girls.Jamaica has up to 6,400 child labourers operating mostly in Kingston, Montego Bay and Spanish Town.A joint initiative between the ILO and the Ministry of Labour has removed 1,200 child workers off the streets.
