Maseru, Feb. 09 — As the world continues its fight against all forms of child labour, Lesotho remains among countries grappling with the practice, with the Minister of Labour and Employment acknowledging that child labour persists in some parts of the country.
Speaking in an interview with the Lesotho News Agency (LENA) on Monday, Minister Ts’eliso Mokhosi said that there are still households where children are engaged in domestic work, farming and animal herding, particularly in rural areas.
He noted that in some instances, the situation is worsened by child-headed households, where children are forced to take on adult responsibilities in order to survive.
Mr. Mokhosi explained that harsh economic conditions remain a major contributing factor, forcing parents to seek employment away from home and leaving children without adequate care and supervision. However, he emphasized that this does not justify denying children their fundamental right to education.
‘While it is acceptable for children to perform light domestic chores for a limited time as part of grooming and responsibility-building, this should never interfere with their schooling or well-being,’ he said.
The Minister stressed that the government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, remains firmly opposed to child labour and continues to enforce laws aimed at protecting children from exploitation.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that millions of children worldwide are still trapped in child labour, underscoring the need for continued global and national efforts to eliminate the practice and promote decent work and access to education for all children.
Ends/NT/tl