MALAWI CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS

MCTU ST PRAISE HOUSE, 1 Floor, Behind NBS Bank Area 3, next to Tutla supermarket P.O. BOX 1271 LILONGWE MALAWI Benar Luther Mambala TEL : (265) 1 755614/ 754 581/752 162 PRESIDENT Fax : (265) 1 755 614 Robert Mkwezalamba Email: mctusecretariat@mctumw.com SECRETARY GENERAL _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release
World Day Against Child Labour 2012 Human Rights and Social justice... let's end child labour Every year, Malawi joins the entire international community to commemorate World Day against Child Labour (WDACL) which falls on the 12th day of June. In 2010 the international community adopted a Roadmap for achieving the elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2016, which stressed that child labour is an impediment to childrens rights and a barrier to development. This years commemorations of World Day Against Child Labour under the theme: Human Rights and Social JusticeLets End Child Labour centre on the work that needs to be done to make the roadmap a reality in light of the right of all children to be protected from child labour and other violations of fundamental human rights. There are ILOs Conventions that seek to protect children from exposure to child labour. Together with other international instruments relating to childrens, workers and human rights, they provide an important framework for legislation established by national governments. However, the ILOs most recent global estimate is that 215 million children worldwide are involved in child labour, with more than half this number involved in its worst forms. The Malawi Child Labour Survey (2002) revealed that 3.1 million children aged 5-14 years were economically active out of which 1.4 million were child labourers. The majority (53%) of which worked in the agriculture sector and 42.1% worked in the communities and personal services. However the Multiple Cluster Survey (2006) showed that the prevalence had decreased from 37% to 29%. This may be due to child labour interventions since 2002. The children concerned should be at school being educated and acquiring skills that prepare them for decent work as adults. By entering the labour market prematurely, they are deprived of this critical education and training that can help to lift them, their families and communities out of a cycle of poverty. In its worst forms, child labourers may also be exposed to physical, psychological or moral suffering that can cause long term damage to their lives.

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ALL CORRESPONDENCE MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL

On this years World Day Against Child Labour, firstly we specifically call for adoption of National Child Labour Policy, Employment and Labour Policy and enactment of the Tenancy Labour Bill (which are still in draft) to ensure effective progress in the elimination of child labour in Malawi. Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) calls upon the government of Malawi to operationalize the National Action Plan on Child Labour (NAP), Employment (Prohibition of hazardous Work for Children) Order 2012, Malawi Decent Work Country by providing adequate budgetary allocation. MCTU further calls on the law enforcement agents to make sure that policies and laws that prohibit the use of children as source of labour are fully enforced to deter those who engage children in child labour practices. Secondly, we invite government ministries and departments, civil society organizations, trade unions, employers, faith based organizations, students and the general public to join us in commemorating this years World Day against Child Labour in Malawi. The event will take place at Kangoma Full Primary School Ground, close to Senior Chief Tsabangos Headquarters in Lilongwe District. The Guest of Honour will be Minister of Labour and Social Development.

SIGNED

Grace Nyirenda

Deputy Secretary General

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