Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana recognises child labour as a gross violation of human rights as it hinders the proper growth of children and leads to lifelong physical and psychological damage, according to the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi.
Speaking during the joint regional child rights conference and children conference in Gaborone on Tuesday, Minister Mokgethi highlighted that child labour perpetuated poverty across generations by keeping the children of the poor out of school and limiting their prospects for upward social mobility.
She stated that child labour in Botswana was prevalent in three sectors: agriculture and domestic work in urban areas, particularly involving young girls.
The government, she said acknowledge that child labor often occurred due to lack of knowledge and cultural misperceptions regarding the distinctions between child labor and children’s daily chores.
In an effort to address the issue, Minister Mokgethi revealed that government had engaged with the US Embassy, specifically its Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), in collaboration with non-governmental organisations such as Humana People to People Botswana.
“Through these engagements, we have been able to address the problem of child labour through legislation, enforcement mechanisms, policies, and social programs,” she stated.
She said that government has ratified the International Labor Organisation’s Labour Inspection Convention and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention. Furthermore, the Ministry has provided comprehensive information on its labour law enforcement efforts and conducted targeted inspections in key districts where reports of child labour had been received.
“I am proud to announce that our efforts were not in vain, as in 2022, Botswana received a moderate advancement rating for its efforts to eliminate child labor,” she said. This achievement demonstrates the country’s commitment to addressing child labour and protecting children’s rights.
Additionally, Minister Mokgethi affirmed the government’s commitment to adhering to all international conventions that have been signed, including The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“The Ministry is also committed to ensuring that children enjoy safe passage to productive adulthood and will jealously uphold children’s inalienable rights to health, education, and shelter,” she added.
To fulfill this commitment, Ms Mokgethi said government would continue to invest wisely and effectively in children to build a first-rate human capital in its quest to become a high-income economy.
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