'Provide rehabilitative jobs to eliminate child labour'

"Only reform of penal codes and their implementation without alternative jobs would rather violate rights of the children instead of eliminating child labour", they said. The seminar on "Identifying Issues Of Advocacy Regarding Chile Labour" was organised by Social and Economic Enhancement Programme (SEEP) in cooperation with `Save the Children Sweden- Denmark'.

The seminar was held at the Women Voluntary Association (WVA) auditorium. Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum Chairperson Dr. Hamidul Haq was present as chief guest with SEEP Chairperson Nagris Jahan Banu in the chair. SEEP Executive Director Fazlul Haq Chowdhury and Nari Moitri Executive Director Shahana Akhter Dolly took part in the discussion. SEEP's Project Coordinator Shahinara Jesmin presented the keynote paper.

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The speakers suggested enactment of a comprehensive law covering all worst forms of child labour in both formal and informal sectors and ratification of ILO convention no. 138 to fix minimum age of 18 years, especially for engaging any one in the worst forms of labour.

They also suggested enforcement of labour laws to control child labour both in formal and informal sectors, reformation of penal codes and strict implementation of birth registration system. The speakers unveiled a pitiable picture of the state of child labour, wherein children are engaged in various hazardous occupations like domestic helps, street vendors, brick breakers, rag pickers in bidi factories and as caterers in hotels and restaurants.

"The children are frequently denied their remuneration, engaged in work for interminable hours and confined in unhygienic, unsafe and unhealthy conditions, resulting in respiratory diseases and physical disabilities," they said. Even in frequent occasions, children become subjected to physical and mental tortures, sexual abuse and trafficking, they added.

Dr. Hamidul Haq suggested that to cope with this curse of child labour a model of "learning and earning" should be introduced so that measures could be taken in conformity to the pragmatic socio- economic conditions of the country to stop child labour.

Nargis Jahan Banu called for a united and integrated thrust by all government and non-government organisations working in the sector for formulating correct approach and strategies to eliminate child labour in true perspectives.

The seminar was followed by a question-answer session where a number of representatives from various organisations working for protection of child rights took part.