Ratifying Section 138 of ILO convention a must
It is imperative to ratify the Section 138 of International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention to eliminate child labour from the country, speakers at a seminar said yesterday.
Highlighting the socioeconomic perspective, they also said that it will not be an easy job to eliminate child labour within a very short time, as many families depend on the earnings of these children.
But the government can easily make a list of light works and hazardous works and set a criterion to decide who will be regarded as 'children', they added.
Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) organised the seminar titled 'Ratification of ILO Convention 138 and its Importance: Context Bangladesh' at Biam auditorium in the city.
The speakers said that although the constitution does not directly say anything about the minimum age of child labour, it is the duty of the state to fix the minimum age.
While presenting the keynote paper, Ridwanul Hoque, assistant professor at the Department of Law, Dhaka University, said the ILO Convention 138 aims at eliminating child labour and protecting children by setting a minimum age for children.
The speakers at the seminar said that the government should think of alternative activities to help those poor children with a view to eradicating poverty.
In particular, the government should now seriously think of strong monitoring for implementing the existing laws, they added.
Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Employment Ataharul Islam was present on the occasion as the chief guest while Country Director of Plan Bangladesh Edward Thomas Espey, Chairperson of BSAF Wahida Banu, Director Kafil Uddin and representatives of other child rights organisations also spoke.
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