Capacity building workshop for implementers of Achieving Reduction of Child Labour in Support of Education (ARISE II) project in Tanzania

A child labour program Achieving Reduction of Child Labour in Support of Education (ARISE), was launched in Tanzania in May this year, targeted at reducing child labour in tobacco growing districts of Kaliua, Uyui and Urambo, Tabora region.

As the World day against child labour 2016 is being marked globally, the ILO in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Parliamentary Affairs and the disabled, social partners and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is organizing a two-day capacity building workshop, 21 – 22 June 2016, in Tabora. The workshop is aimed at building the capacity of line Ministries’ staff in the region and at district levels on child labour issues.

According to Goemans Charlotte, ILO Associate expert on Child Labour and youth employment at ILO Office, Dar es Salaam, “… there is need to sensitize communities on child labour and build capacity among them and the line Ministries’ staff so as to ensure smoother operations of the project…”

This is therefore an opportunity to raise awareness on child labour with a focus on ending child labour in supply chains in the agricultural sector and strengthening relations with the stakeholders in Tabora who will be closely engaging with ILO on the implementation of the above project.

In addition to providing clarity on the concepts of child labour with reference to the National Action Plan (NAP) for the elimination of child labour in Tanzania the workshop will also provide a platform for identifying the different actors and collaborators at district and regional levels.

Background Information

As per the Integrated Labour Force Survey undertaken last year, there are more than 4 million children in child labour. About 29 percent of children aged 5-17 years, are engaged in child labor in various economic sectors, including agriculture, domestic work, fishing, and mining industries.

The World Day Against Child Labour 2016 focuses on supply chains. Increasingly complex, they span sectors, countries and regions. And all supply chains – including in agriculture and fishing, manufacturing and mining, services and construction, and whether global or national – may involve some of the 168 million children still in child labour. Eliminating child labour in supply chains is everyone’s business, and requires the commitment of governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations and enterprises themselves.

“…It is unacceptable that there are still 168 million children in child labour, 85 million of whom are in hazardous work. Child labour is found in agriculture – 99 million – to mining, from manufacturing to tourism, producing goods and services consumed by millions every day…” says Guy Ryder, ILO Director General in his statement to mark the World Day Against Child Labour 2016.