Jamaica observes World Day against Child Labour

"It was an appropriate time to focus national attention on our responsibility to nurture our children and protect them [...] from all forms of violations of their fundamental rights.” (Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller)

News | 18 June 2012
Jamaica joined the rest of the world in observing the World Day against Child Labour on 12 June, with a message by Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, and a one-day symposium on the draft National Policy on Child Labour.

Thirty participants from key sectors, including the Ministry of Education, Office of the Children’s Advocate, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Statistical Institute (STATIN), along with the Jamaica Employers’ Federation, Jamaica Association of Household Workers, and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, and NGOs, undertook a critical review of the Draft National Child Labour Policy at the symposium held on 12 June 2012 at Wyndham Hotel, Kingston. The Policy is an initiative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security with support from the ILO Tackling Child Labour Through Education (TACKLE) Project, funded by the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

As a follow-up to the symposium, additional consultations on the Policy will be held nationally in the coming months after which the draft will be finalized and taken through the parliamentary review process.

The symposium was held under the theme of the World Day “Human rights and social justice…let’s end child labour” and was hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in collaboration with the ILO TACKLE Project.

In the message to observe the Day, issued through the Jamaica Information service, Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller said, “ It was an appropriate time to focus national attention on our responsibility to nurture our children and protect them not only from the abuse of child labour but all forms of violations of their fundamental rights.”

“As a signatory to the International Labour Organization’s Conventions that seek to eliminate child labour, Jamaica supports the view that whatever their circumstance, wholesome childhood experiences must not be burdened with hazardous, unhealthy engagement in work that denies children the opportunity of an education, “ reiterated Prime Minister Simpson-Miller.

“My Administration supports the view that when children enter the labour market prematurely and are deprived an education and training, we are exposing them to situations which will affect their childhood thus creating little or no possibility of them in later years to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Children must enjoy their childhood; they must be nurtured and protected; they belong in school not at work, “ she continued.

“Jamaica, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and its various agencies will continue to address the issues affecting children through the National Plan of Action on Child Labour. We will also be increasing public education to parents and employers. Our education policy stipulates that children should remain in school until age 17 and parents, guardians and employers should not abuse our children by engaging them in work below this age,” said Prime Minister Simpson-Miller.

The International Labour Office, through the TACKLE Project, is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, to contribute to the withdrawal of children engaged in child labour and to prevent further entry of children into employment by offering alternative education and training opportunities. The Project also assists in strengthening the capacity of national and local authorities to formulate, implement and enforce policies to tackle child labour.

Activities completed under the Project since 2009 include a review of legislation to assess compliance and enforcement with ILO Conventions; review of the National Education Policy to include child labour; the development of a draft list of hazardous work; sensitization of labour inspectorate staff; and the implementation of two action programmes by RISE Life Management and Children First aimed at remedial education, skills training and providing access to support mechanisms for children and their families.