Timor-Leste reaffirms its commitment to eliminate child labour

AILEU, Timor-Leste (ILO News) - Timor-Leste celebrated this year’s World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) in the Municipality of Aileu, one of the 13 municipalities in the country. Organized by General Inspection of Works Timor-Leste (IGT) in coordination with the Vice Prime Minister Office through its Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs (MECAE), with support from the ILO, around 100 participants representing the Aileu authorities, its four Administrative Posts, 11 villages as well as local teachers and students from primary and secondary schools.

© ILO

© ILO

Francisco Fatima Xavier, representative from the Vice Prime Minister Office, stated that the Constitution of Timor-Leste guarantees the right of children to education. She urgently called for action to guarantee access to education for all children in the country. "The future of this country lays in the hands of our next generation. All children should go to school instead of going to work. The country recognizes your presence and participation to become the bright future of the country,” she stated in her remark.

Highlighting this year’s theme, “Let’s Act on Our Commitment: Stop Child Labour”, Frederico Pereira de Matos, Inspector General of General Inspection Works (IGT), emphasized the commitment of Timor-Leste to be free from child labour through the finalization of drafts of the Action Plan on Child Labour and the List of Hazardous Works for Children which had been jointly developed by relevant stakeholders.

"These two drafts have already been submitted to MECAE. Once they are approved and deliberated, these two important documents would provide all stakeholders in Timor-Leste a guideline for the development of regulations and policies that uphold the rights of children and ensure their welfare,'' he said.

In addition, Frederico explained that a Training of Trainers (ToT) had been conducted on child labour referral system. The ToT aimed to build the capacity of relevant authorities such as police officers, local authorities, schools and school inspectors in Aileu and three other municipalities to develop a child labour monitoring form and data as well as to conduct advocacy campaign for parents and workplaces that child labour deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

Meanwhile, President of the National Commission Against Child Labour (CNCTI), Aniceto Leto Soro, underscored the important role of CNCTI. The Commission involves 10 inter-ministerial as well as employers’ and workers’ organizations and was assigned to monitor and ensure relevant line ministries within the government as well as other relevant stakeholders to support the elimination of child labour.

“The elimination of child labour has been part of the government’s priorities. We do hope that the drafts of the National Action Plan and the List of Hazardous Works could be finalized the soonest possible so that we develop proper actions with adequate budget on the elimination of child labour,” Aniceto stated, adding that he also hoped that the government would improve the subsidy programme that currently only covers three children, while most of families have more than three children.

Richard Handson, ILO’s representative in Timor-Leste, said that this year’s WDACL also marked the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Form of Child Labour, which, in 2020, was the first ILO Convention to be universally ratified. He also congratulated Timor-Leste which had ratified the ILO Convention No. 182 in 2009 and six year later has established the CNCTI.

"We need to enhance an integrated approach to realize all fundamental principles of children's rights that exist to eliminate children's involvement in hazardous works, especially the worst forms of child labour. We also need to ensure that all children have access to education so that they can reach their maximum potentials," he said.

The 2016 joint study by the Government of Timor-Leste and the ILO revealed that approximately 67,000 children aged 5 to 17 were economically active, of whom 52,000 were child labourers with 29,000 involved in hazardous works.