960405

APFTU seminar

Call to combat

child labour menace

LAHORE: National seminar for trade union representatives under the auspices of All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions has called upon the government to arrange to combat the abuse of child labour through allocation of resources for vocational education and training of the children of the poor instead of their exploitation in early age.

It also urged the government to get implemented the provisions of labour laws such as Employment of Children Act, 1991 and Abolishing of Bonded Labour Act 1992 through enforcement of labour inspection machinery in the country.

The participants of the seminar also expressed deep concern over the high rate of illiteracy in the country which is almost 73 percent. The participants declared that the abuse of child labour is due to feudalism, poverty, high population and allocation of meagre resources for education and training and welfare of the children. The government should, therefore, formulate a comprehensive labour policy for the welfare of the children in light of ILO convention ratified by the Government of Pakistan about the rights of the children.

The inaugural session of the seminar was addressed by representatives of the federation and presided over by Mian Mohammad Munir. He presented a detailed report about the prevalence of child labour in the country and also proposed plan of action adopted by the federation to strengthen awareness among rank and file of public opinion on the need of abolishing of child labour and welfare of the children who are future prosperity of the nation.

The said seminar will run at Bakhtiar Labour Hall, Lahore for 5 days.