By Mcloyd Chilangiza:
Principal Secretary for Labour Wezi Kayira has bemoaned the number of children involved in labour, saying the country has recorded over 2.1 million cases.
Kayira disclosed this in Lilongwe Wednesday when Joining Forces for Africa: Acting to End Child Labour (Jofa-Acte) inaugurated a project aimed at stemming child labour cases.
“As we gather here, we acknowledge the stark reality that child labour persists within our nation. The current statistics underscore this pressing issue: approximately 2:1 million children aged five to 17, constituting 38 percent of this age group, are engaged in work,” Kayira said.
Kayira further said the government has put in place measures to address the problem.
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“We have some laws, for instance. As you all know, there was an amendment of the Employment Act, which strengthened efforts to abolish tenancy labour. The government also has a list of hazardous works that children aged between 14 and 18 should not do,” he said.
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Malawi Rune Skinnebach said he was optimistic that implementation of the Jofa-Acte will address the problem of child labour in the country.
“The European Union values the protection of human rights, especially those of the most vulnerable groups,” Skinnebach said.
He also said the programme is targeting 400,000 people in Ntchisi and Lilongwe districts.
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On his part, Save the Children Country Director Ashebir Debebe called for collaboration in efforts aimed at addressing the root causes of child labour.
The collaboration of Joining forces Alliance started in 2017 and organisations such as the EU, Save the Children International, Plan International and ChildFund Alliance are implementing it.
The project, which has been funded by the EU to the tune of over 5.2 million Euros, is being implemented in four African countries such as Madagascar, Mali, Burkina Faso and Malawi.
