Labour Ministry Accelerates Intervention Strategies to End Child Labour

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) is accelerating its intervention strategies to end child labour in Jamaica.

This is in line with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Objectives, and Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, to eliminate child labour across the globe by 2025.

Speaking with JIS News recently, Divisional Director, Industrial Relations and Allied Services in the Ministry, Gillian Corrodus said that “as a country we must take a stand to protect our children from engaging in child labour”.

With support from the Regional Initiative, Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour and the ILO, Jamaica, through the MLSS, has been implementing several initiatives to eliminate child labour.

According to Ms. Corrodus, child labour has some cultural roots in Jamaica.

“We are accustomed, for example, to children working on farms, or where families operate a small shop the children are required to work in them,” she said.

She pointed out that parents and guardians are oftentimes not recognising that they may be preventing the child’s full participation in school and exposing their children to hazardous chemicals and conditions.

She is warning parents and guardians against this practice.

Ms. Corrodus is imploring the general public to recognise its role in helping to end child labour, “which requires the Government, employers, trade unions and civil society’s participation”.

The Ministry is utilising community-level engagement in high-risk areas and sensitisation sessions, partnering with the Ministry of Education and Youth to identify children who are not in school, and Social Protection initiatives such as the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), to accelerate the end to child labour in Jamaica.

In addition, entities such as the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), the Victim Support Unit and the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) are also engaged to investigate suspected cases of child abuse or child labour.

In extreme cases, the child may be removed from the home to a more appropriate accommodation with a relative or place of safety.

Generally, the Ministry’s approach, along with partner agencies, is to encourage behaviour change and compliance with the laws for the protection of children.

To report suspected cases of child labour, persons may call 211 or contact the Ministry of Labour at childlabour@mlss.gov.jm.

“We do interventions with the parents/guardians to ensure they are economically able to sustain their families by accessing decent work to avoid recidivism and sensitise them about the importance of sending their children to school,” Ms. Corrodus explained.

There are various reasons parents/guardians are not able to finance their children’s development.

The Government of Jamaica, through its social protection mechanisms, provides educational grants and assistance to parents for small businesses, so that they can adequately take care of their children.

Ms. Corrodus pointed out that there has been a significant decline in the number of children at the stoplights begging or wiping windshields and those peddling in markets.

The Government has given its commitment to continue to implement policies and programmes that are geared towards eliminating child labour.