LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Labour, Agnes NyaLonje has appealed stakeholders to work jointly and invest in child education saying the move will help in eliminating poverty.
Minister NyaLonje was speaking on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at Mbuyedziko primary school ground at Traditional Authority (T.A) Kalumo in Ntchisi district.
She presided over this year’s commemoration of World Day Against Child Labour.
NyaLonje said that denying children their right to education and engaging them in works that exceed their age limit is increasing levels of poverty and that concerted interventions from all stakeholders are key to ending the malpractice.
“Let us work together to do away with all practices that hinder our children from enjoying their right to access education. Let us love all the children and no country has ever developed without education. ,” said NyaLonje who added: “”
She further said allowing children their right to education resonates with President Lazarus Chakwera’s dream for a new Malawi which can be achieved through educated minds.
Employers Consultative Association of Malawi Executive Council member Orphan Chirwa said child labour dents an institution’s image and affects the reputation of its products.
He said the association encourages its members to screen the people it employs to avoid employing children which may affect their companies.
Chirwa has also urged government to speed up formulation and approval of the Child Labour Policy to adequately deal with the problem.
International Labour Organisation national project coordinator Misheck Phiri said the organisation has a project in which it is working with tea and coffee value chains to end child labour.
In his welcome remarks, Senior Chief Kalumo conceded that child labour which has mostly been accelerated by poverty is negatively impacting his area and the district at large.
“We always appreciate the government’s interventions, in collaboration with the Civil Society against this backward practice,” he said.
Engaging children in tobacco farms and herding cattle are among child labour practices in the district.
This year’s commemoration was held under the theme “Let’s Act On Our Commitment to End Child Labour”.
In Malawi, children are mainly employed as herders, domestic workers, and estate laborers where they are exposed to a number of hazards.