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nairaland.net • View topic - Nigeria to enact policy on child labour

Nigeria to enact policy on child labour

Nigeria to enact policy on child labour

Postby Richard Akindele » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:00 pm

April 12, 2006, 9 hours, 53 minutes and 58 seconds ago.

By ANDnetwork .com

For the first time, Nigeria is to have a policy on child labour, as a further demonstration of its commitments to eradicate the vice.

Reports say although government at all levels, non-governmental organisations, development agencies, the media as well as the civil society have been in the vanguard to eliminate child labour, especially in its worst forms, no national policy had been in place.

Worst forms include children used in mining sites and agricultural plantations, in armed conflicts, prostitution, trafficking, debt bondage, outright sale and compulsory and forced labour.


According to the draft policy, obtained by journalists, ``it will provide relevant beacons for all stakeholders who are committed to the elimination of child labour in Nigeria.


``Child labour presents a formidable challenge in many societies in view of its negative impact on the physical, cognitive, social, moral development and welfare of children,'' the draft states.


It explains that child labour should be distinguished from child work which consists of mild involvement of children in household and occupational activities carried out in safe conditions and environments and constitutes a mechanism for socialising children necessary for their adjustment to social and economic milieu.''


According to global estimates by International Labour Organisation (ILO), the number of working children in developing countries is 250 million, while Africa tops the number. In Nigeria, the estimated number of working children is 15 million, found in crafts work, on the streets, in semi-formal sector as agriculture, domestic services, transport industry, mining and fishing.


Factors driving child labour in the country have been identified as poverty, rural-urban migration, cultural and religious practices, large family size, illiteracy, ignorance of the effect of child labour, school-related factors and unemployment.


Others include inadequate and poor quality of apprenticeship schemes, impact of HIV and AIDS and other health-related issues as well as poor enforcement of relavant policies, laws and regulations.


The document notes that since 2000, Nigeria has shown increased commitment and political will to combat child labour through the implementation of various programmes and activities.


``A series of laws, labour legislations, regulations, codes of practice and bye-laws, among others, aimed at protecting children from child labour, particularly in its exploitative and hazardous forms, have been reviewed or enacted,'' it says.


According to the draft, the target groups are children themselves, child labourers, parents, relevant government ministries and agencies, employers of labour, trade unions, the media, NGOs, CBOs and FBOs, trade, market and professional associations and social workers.


Others are community leaders, teachers, legislators, political parties as well as international development agencies.


``The ultimate of this policy is to eliminate child labour, especially in its worst forms, within the shortest possible time,'' it adds.

Source : Daily Independent (Nigeria)
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