Upington, South Africa (ILO news) – South Africa can continue to play a leading role in tackling child labour by sharing its program of actions with neighbouring countries, said Aeneas Chuma, ILO Regional Director for Africa at the 2014 National Day against Child Labour in South Africa.
The event was commemorated at the Robert Gunda Stadium in Upington in the Northern Cape under the theme: “Let me be the child”.
“South Africa is playing a leading role in eliminating child labour, not only within its own borders, but also in neighbouring countries, by sharing experiences in combating child labour”, the Assistant Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO) stated in the presence of the Minister of Labour, Hon Mildred Oliphant and Senior Representatives of COSATU (Trade Unions) and BUSA (Business).
Mr. Chuma, who was invited to address participants to the commemoration, commended South Africa’s tripartite constituents’ commitment to implement and regularly revise the national Child Labour Programme of Action (CLPA, 2013-2017).
The CLPA was first adopted in 2003 with a programme that set out specific actions to be implemented, including:
Targeting the implementation of government and other stakeholders’ programmes and policies on poverty, employment, labour and social matters more effectively in areas where the work children do has serious negative effects on them;
Promoting new legislative measures against Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL);
Strengthening of national capacity to enforce legislative measures; and
Increasing public awareness and social mobilisation against WFCL.
Policy responses
However, despite all efforts made, child labour still remains a challenge in the country, he underlined.
According to available statistics (Survey of Activities of Young People published in 2011), about 2.7 million children aged 7 to 17 in South Africa were involved in economic activities – either for market production or for production of goods and services for household use. Proportionally, 24.8% of children aged 7 to 17 were involved in economic activities. In addition, 41.7% of children who were engaged in economic activities were exposed to at least one hazardous condition.
But the country has made great progress in the battle to deal with the worst forms of child labour. Legislative amendments, education, social protection are considered to be best tools to give children a better fighting chance in future.
South Africa is the second country worldwide to ratify ILO’s Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The Convention addresses specific measures to eliminate child labour in domestic work. The country also signed the ILO’s Roadmap towards the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2016.
“The ILO is committed to supporting the efforts of our tripartite Constituents in South Africa to accelerate the fight against child labour at national and regional levels’, Mr. Chuma concluded.
