Tk 285 cr project taken to eliminate child labour

588

DHAKA, June 11, 2018 (BSS) – Labour and Employment Ministry has
undertaken a project of Taka 285 crore for prevention and elimination of
hazardous child labour by 2021.

The ministry has formulated fresh work plan for prevention of child
labour aiming to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

As per the workplan, different committees on prevention of child labour
are working at district and upazila levels.

Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE)
Inspector General Md Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan said readymade garments industry
and shrimps processing industry have already been freed from child labour.

As per the labour law, if children are employed in works, there is
provision to take legal action against parents, guardians and authority of
employer institutions.

In 2017-18 fiscal, the government has identified 903 children in 341
factories in 11 sectors.

Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan said some 38 works have been announced hazardous
considering professional health and safety issues.

The government is working to prevent child labour in 11 sectors on
priority basis by this year, he said.

Bhuiyan said at present over 17 lakh children are working at hazardous
works in 18 sectors across the country.

Of them, 12.80 lakh child labours are in hazardous works while 2.60 lakh
are in very risky works, he added.

He said these children are engaged with hotel, restaurant, tannery, ship
breaking, transport, agriculture, household works, construction, brick
breaking and other hazardous works.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Mujibul Haque said the
government has a plan to take a project to make around 2.5 lakh child
laborers as skilled workers through technical and non-formal educational
activities.