THE 2012 UNICEF State of the World’s Children Report has revealed that 34 per cent of children between the ages of five and fourteen are engaged in child labour. What is even more worrying is the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) which notes that from 2011 46 per cent of children between the above ages in urban areas in particular are engaged in very exploitative and harmful ways.
THE report goes on to caution that these exploitative and harmful ways has the tendency to affect the physical and mental growth of children who are made to undergo such practices. The Country Representative of UNICEF, Mrs Johanna John Ajet-Nasam, said this last Monday in Accra when the world marked World Day Against Child Labour.
CHILD labour is one issue that is common in many African countries. In this part of the world poor parents who put their children through such traumas see it as a way of allowing their children to contribute to the survival of their families. In Ghana, for instance, there are parents who will force their children to sell sachet water on busy principal streets of the regional capitals, without taking into consideration the repercussions of their actions.
WE at Today believe that it is against that backdrop and the effects of child labour that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is calling on governments to step up efforts to fight the canker. The ILO further urges governments against complacency.
IN FACT, we at Today share in the opinion that governments, especially in Africa, have been lax in dealing with child labour issues. The only thing our governments do is to talk hard on the matter and that is all. We have really not seen action aimed at dealing decisively with the problem of child labour.
IT is however refreshing to learn that Ghana’s law-making body is calling for the strengthening of various agencies to champion the mission of dealing with the menace of child labour. We want to add that it should not be talk alone but must be followed by action. It is high time we told parents to the face that they cannot compel their children to exploitative practices no matter what the reason is.
WE therefore recommend punitive action against parents who compel and allow their children to be used for exploitative and harmful jobs. We need to find an antidote to child labour and the time to act is now!
