Africa-Press – Cape verde. The results of the 2022 Child Labor (TI) survey, released today, revealed that this problem affects 4.2% of children in Cape Verde, with 2.5% of children between the ages of 5 and 17 working in dangerous conditions. The municipality of Praia stands out for being the municipality with the highest percentage of children involved in child labor.
The survey on Child Labor (TI) in Cape Verde, released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), within the scope of the Continuous Multi-objective Survey (IMC), was carried out between November 2022 and January 2023 with a stipulated sample of around 117 thousand children, aged between 5 and 17, from urban and rural areas, nationwide.
According to the statistical technician from the National Statistics Institute (INE), Alice Rodrigues, of the children assessed, the results revealed that 9,004, predominantly male and concentrated in rural areas, were involved in work activities. Of this total, 4,900 children were considered to be in a situation of child labor.
“In terms of work, we found that the majority work for their own household consumption. Regarding working children, around 4,900 children were in child labor, which represents around 4.2%”.
From the results presented, the municipality of Praia stood out with a significant percentage of children involved in child labor. When asked about the school attendance of children who work, the INE technician highlighted that the study also has results from children who work and who attend school.
“There are 92.8% of children who work and, at the same time, study. In general, it can be concluded that they still need responsible people, linked to the issue, they still need to work to eradicate child labor, something still needs to be done”.
Alice Rodrigues Pinto emphasized the continued need for efforts to eradicate child labor, concluding that the main difference in relation to the previous study, conducted in 2012, lies in the change in methodology, making direct comparisons unfeasible.
In turn, the Minister of Family, Inclusion and Social Development, Fernando Elísio Freire, reiterated that the Government’s commitment to eliminating all forms of child labor in the country is inviolable, and the Executive is aware of the need for public policies aimed at guarantee the present and future of children, their freedom and rights.
“It is a time to reaffirm the Government’s objective of eliminating all forms of child labor and strengthening engagement in protecting the rights of children and adolescents. The Government places people’s freedom and their rights as the supreme value. And in this specific case, children’s rights are inviolable.”
The minister reinforced that the protection of children and adolescents is a Government priority, and highlighted the need to concentrate efforts to guarantee a healthy and happy development for all children, highlighting that a well-protected and cared-for child, with access to health and education, is a guarantee of a better future.
In his speech, Elísio Freire addressed measures to assist families, including access to health, education and social protection, in addition to highlighting the importance of national policies to combat child labor. The Governor highlighted that, despite legislation aligned with international standards, it is crucial to give special attention to the issue of child labor when preparing the National Policy for the Protection of Children and Adolescents.
For her part, the President of the Cape Verdean Institute for Children and Adolescents (ICCA), Zaida Freitas, pointed out significant challenges in combating child labor and highlighted the importance of a coordinated approach, raising awareness among the community and family, especially due to the activities informal family members.
The president of ICCA highlighted the need for greater parental responsibility and highlights the urgency of updating the list of dangerous jobs, promising joint efforts with partners to tackle the problem.
The presentation of the survey was attended by the director of the Decent Work Support Team for West Africa and with the launch of the comic book “STOP Trabadju Infantil” and special edition “Lobu Ku Xibinhu”.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
