Jamaica Marks World Day Against Child Labour

Jamaica will join the rest of the world in observing World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) on June 12, under the theme: ‘Human rights and social justice…Let's end child labour!

The International Labour Organization (ILO) TACKLE Project Officer in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Nasolo Thompson, said the observance will turn the spotlight on the critical need for all children to be protected from child labour, and from other violations of their fundamental human rights.

(Related Story: Ministry more Focused on Eliminating Child Labour)

Activities on the day will include a day symposium at the Wyndham Kingston hotel starting at 9:00 a.m. The Ministry is spearheading the event, which will focus on measures geared at tackling child labour locally.

The draft National Policy on Child Labour, which is one such initiative, will be carefully examined during the session.

 “We are going to be bringing a wide variety of stakeholders to the table to look at the draft policy, to determine the components that are considered appropriate for our national context that speaks to child labour in Jamaica,” Mrs. Thompson  informed.

According to the TACKLE Project Officer, the ILO is working in collaboration with the Ministry to create an environment that will ensure that Jamaica’s children are able to reach their fullest potential.

She contended that “by entering into the labour market prematurely, they are deprived of the right to proper education and training that can help to elevate them, their families, and communities, out of the cycle of poverty."

She said that the ILO is using education as a tool in addressing child labour, and the WDACL provides an opportunity to gain further support from governments, ILO social partners, civil society, schools, youth and women's groups as well as the media, in the fight against the scourge.

June 12 has been celebrated internationally as WDACL since 2002.

By Jeneva Gordon, JIS PRO