President George Manneh Weah has instructed the ministries of Labor, Education, Youth and Sports, Health, Gender, Children and Social Protection, as well as line agencies and partners, to ensure that no child is a victim of child labor or involved in hazardous work.
In his Special Statement marking the observance of the World Day against Child Labor, President Weah noted that millions of girls and boys throughout the world are engaged into child labor and are victims of human trafficking, specifically child trafficking, which has placed them into child labor.
“These works have deprived them of adequate education, health, leisure and basic freedoms, thereby undermining their potential growth and development as well as their ability to gainful employment. More than half have been trafficked and are exposed to the worst forms of child labor, such as work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labor, illicit activities, such as drug trafficking, prostitution, and involvement in domestic work and in armed conflict,” he said.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) launched the first World Day against Child Labor (WDACL) in June 2002, under the theme, “A Future without Child Labor”, as a way to highlight the plight of children. The day, which is observed on June 12 of each year, is intended to serve as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labor, reflected in the huge number of ratifications of ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor and ILO Convention No. 138 on the minimum age for employment.
However, the global pandemic, COVID-19, has profoundly affected the world of work. In addition to its threat to public health, the economic and social stability, the long-term livelihood and well-being of millions were also negatively impacted resulting to more child laborers.
President Weah disclosed that Liberia has signed many international conventions, including the UNICEF’s Child Rights Convention (CRC), the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention (No. 182), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons. He said added to these is the endorsement and launch in 2019 of the Liberia’s National Action Plan Document (NAP) for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, which aims at ensuring that children are shielded from activities that are detrimental to their physical, social or psychological wellbeing.
According to him, children’s participation in the labor force is endlessly varied and infinitely volatile, responding to changing market and social conditions. “Experience shows that a combination of economic growth, respect for labor standards, universal education and social protection, together with a better understanding of the needs and rights of children, can bring about a significant reduction in child labor. Child labor is a stubborn problem that, even if overcome in certain places or sectors, will seek out opportunities to reappear in new and often unanticipated ways,” he stated.
Meanwhile, as Liberia joined the world over in observance of this year’s World Day Against Child Labor on June 12, with the global theme, “Act Now to End Child Labor”, the Government of Liberia (GOL) says it recognizes that the worst forms of child labor and other hazardous work done by children deprive them of their dignity, rights to education, health, well-being and protection.
“As emphasized in the ‘Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD)’, it is clear that through relevant line ministries, such as the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ministry of Health, and in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other relevant humanitarian agencies, the Government of Liberia (GOL) can achieve her objectives in the fight against child labor.
“Against this backdrop, I call on all of the relevant actors and stakeholders to coordinate efforts and mobilize the needed resources, and with the support of the public, to ensure that no child is a victim of child labor or involved in hazardous work,” President Weah noted in his Special Statement.