IN an effort to completely eradicate child labour from Guyana by 2025, the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour, has embarked on countrywide consultations with stakeholders to garner varying inputs for the development of a national child labour policy.
Linden’s consultation was the third of its kind and over 30 stakeholders from the mining town were engaged on Wednesday and gave their input on the issue. These included representatives from the religious organizations, financial institutions, the business community, elected representatives, NGO’s and public servants.
Giving opening remarks was Assistant Chief Labour Officer, Ms Karen Corbin, who said that child labour is very real in Guyana even though laws have been put in place as well as the ratification of the ILO Convention Act. Lacking, she said, is the involvement of
stakeholders, hence the hosting of consultations countrywide for them to play their role in this very pertinent issue. “Children throughout the world should be nurtured not neglected, educated not exploited and helped not harmed…we at the Ministry of Social Protection are on the road to ensuring that all stakeholders are involved, hence your invitation here this morning.” Collaboration is also done with national and international organizations such as UNICEF to further tackle the issue.
Giving an in-depth PowerPoint presentation on Child Labour in Guyana was Dr Quincy Jones. His presentation gave the stakeholders a vivid picture of where Guyana is in the fight against child labour and what areas need to be focussed on during discussions
surrounding the development of the policy. The stakeholders were informed that child labour includes any child under the age of 18 taking part in the worst form of child labour and children under 12 participating in economic activities that can affect their health and wellbeing and is detrimental to their attendance at school or vocational training.
A study done by the Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF revealed that 18% of children ages 5-17 years are engaged in child labour in Guyana; 10% are involved in economic activities above the age specific threshold and 13% work under hazardous conditions. Neglect is the leading form of child labour in Guyana, which forces children to undertake employment to provide for their basic needs. The study further showed that most of the children involved in child labour works in the agriculture sector followed by industry and hospitality services. Children of Amerindian descent living in the interior locations are said to be particularly vulnerable to the mining and extractive industry.
Progress
Jones highlighted that significant progress in 2010 was made by Guyana with the ratification of all six essential international conventions that address child labour.
Additionally, laws made in 1999 surrounding child labour have been amended and updated. “Though we have made significant progress towards addressing child labour, though we have a contextual understanding of child labour in Guyana and a bit of snap shot of that state of child labour in Guyana, it is hoped that a national child labour policy will be able to address the gaps as it pertains to protecting children from child labour,” he urged.
Some gaps that were highlighted showed that legislation put in place does not adequately protect Guyana’s children from child labour. The various Acts that need strengthening include Employment of Young Persons and Children Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act and Protection of Children Act. The stakeholders were urged to craft a comprehensive child labour policy with all the necessary supportive mechanisms including the eradication of neglect. “The national child labour policy must be sensitive enough and comprehensive enough to protect children from instances of child labour owed to neglect,” said Jones.
The Child Labour Policy should have clear definitions of child labour, full protection of children under 18 from engaging in hazardous work, sufficient prohibition of the use of children for illicit activities, a supportive regulation for restrictions. Dr. Jones, in his conclusion, urged the stakeholders to consider the inconsistencies and gaps and to reconcile these. He said the policy must focus on the multi-layered contextual nature of child labour in Guyana.
