By Alice Ndunya

Machinga, June 22, Mana: Minister of Labour, Peter Dimba, says continuous mapping and integration of initiatives that protect children against child labour are vital in promoting the well-being of children while stopping the vice to attain the sector’s long term aspirations in line with Sustainable Development Goals.

Dimba made the remarks over the weekend at Madziamera Primary School Ground ,Traditional Authority (TA) Mposa in Machinga where he attended commemoration of World Day Against Child Labour.

The day was held under the theme: Progress is Clear, But There’s More To Do: Let’s Speed Up Efforts!

Dimba said government will continue various interventions to  deal with all forms of child labour, citing awareness campaigns as one way to help putting across messages on the implications of child labour on rights and well being.

“As government, we want to rescue children that are trapped in child labour but that can only be realistic if all stakeholders are aware of what constitutes child labour, how they can help to eliminate child labour, implications that may arise as well as failure to abide by rules and regulations,” he said.

He, therefore, appealed for total commitment by all sectors in ensuring that laws that protect children against child labour are in place and are fully implemented.

“Let’s work together in providing a safer place for children. We should not use our children as tools for financial back-ups.

“It is worrisome that children between the ages of five to 17 here in Machinga are engaged in fishing, especially on Lake Chirwa and other lakes in Malawi,” Dimba said.

Vice President for Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), Richard Tchereko, assured the nation that the association will continue intensifying efforts to ensure that employers are committed stop child labour by abiding to labour laws and policies while pursuing business goals.

“We will make sure that members are contributing positively through infrastructure building in schools and also by providing scholarships to underprivileged students so that they are not dropping out of school,” he added.

Paramount Chief Kawinga was encouraged by efforts made by sectors in protecting children against child labour and urged chiefs to join the efforts in their respective areas.

“I want to encourage fellow chiefs to take collective measures to stop child labour,” he said.

Kawinga, therefore, called upon fellow chiefs to formulate and enforce by laws that should deal with child labour, saying this will compliment efforts by various stakeholders.

World Day Against Child Labour is commemorated globally on June 12. The day was set aside to raise awareness of child labour and its impact.