43000 children are engaged in child labour-Tambatamba

Brenda Tambatamba, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, recently shared that about 430,000 children in Zambia are caught up in child labour.

This number, which is 6.9 percent of kids aged five to 17, highlights a serious issue for the country in safeguarding its youngest citizens from exploitation.

At the World Day Against Child Labour event in Kaoma District, Tambatamba voiced her concern that girls represent 63.4 percent of those involved in child labour.

This situation calls for measures that specifically protect and empower girls.

In 2023, 7.8 percent of children aged 5 to 14 were working, and 7.1 percent were juggling work and school.

These numbers raise significant worries about the quality of education and the overall well-being of these kids.

Tambatamba pointed out that child labour is common in various sectors, especially agriculture, mining, trading, and domestic work.

Many children are forced to drop out of school to take on tough jobs like harvesting tobacco and cotton, picking caterpillars, and mining gold.

She also highlighted the concerning sight of children selling goods in bars and along major roads in Lusaka, showcasing their exploitation in urban trading settings.

Despite these alarming figures, Tambatamba recognized some progress in the battle against child labour.

Over 4,000 children have been rescued from exploitative situations, government funding has increased, a National Steering Committee on Child Labour has been established, and free education from primary to secondary levels has been put in place.

She emphasized the need for a well-rounded approach to tackle child labour, addressing the root problems of poverty and limited access to quality education.

The government has updated the national education curriculum, strengthened laws, and boosted support for vulnerable families through programs like the Social Cash Transfer, Cash for Work, and the Skills Bursary Fund.

Tambatamba reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to eliminating child labour by enforcing existing laws and policies.

She urged businesses to adopt ethical labour practices, encouraged civil society to keep up advocacy efforts, and called on the public to remain alert and report any cases of child exploitation.

This year’s World Day Against Child Labour had a powerful theme: