Labour Department organises anti-child labour rally

…in support of Anti-Child Labour Day

Scores of Guyanese participated in a march and rally against child labour on Wednesday, as calls were mounted for more to be done to tackle the scourge which continues to have a debilitating impact on socio-economic development of Guyanese youth and the professionalisation of the work place.
The march commenced at the Labour Department’s office on Brickdam and culminated at D’Urban Park with a rally. Some of the participating schools included St Winifred Secondary School, the New Campbellville Secondary, Freeburg Secondary, Kingston Secondary, South Ruimveldt Secondary, the Business School and Queenstown Secondary.
Addressing the gathering of students and members of the Social Protection Ministry was the Minister within the Social Protection Minister Keith Scott, who noted that child labour must be eradicated since it affects every aspect of a child’s

development.
He also underscored the need for people to report incidences where children may be placed in a working environment.
“If you know any child or any parent who is taking advantage of the child in your opinion may be practicing child labour, it now becomes your task, your duty to ensure that those children get the necessary help that is available for them,” Minister Scott related to the gathering.
He emphasises that when children are placed to work and aren’t afforded the opportunity to play and interact, they face severe underdevelopment.
“You have to watch and see what is the harm that can be done. They can be physically stunted. You’re mentally disabled because you cannot have the chance to develop and the time to enjoy leisure,” he added.
Additionally, the Assistant Chief Labour Officer Karen Vanslutyman-Corbin addressed those gathered and encouraged the students to be aware of the facts that surround child labour.
“There is no excuse, child labour is child abuse,” she chanted.
Teachers and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were also advised to assist the department in combating all forms of child labour by the year 2025.
Anti-child Labour Day was celebrated on Wednesday under the theme: Generation Safe and Health: End Child Labour. From the 250 million children that are victims of child labour, seven percent are in Latin America and Guyana.
This year also saw the drafting of the anti-child labour policy which will be completed in time for the new academic year in September. This document is also the first of its kind to be introduced to the Caribbean region.
The department will also be engaged in other activities in the coming weeks to further sensitise the public on child labour.