TECL


 

National child labour plan adopted at child labour conference, 30 Jan 08

Issued by: Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the International Labour Organisation
Issued on: 30 January 2008
Issued after the National Conference on Child Labour, held 29-30 January 2008


Media reports on the adoption of the APEC

On 29 and 30 January 2008 the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare hosted a National Conference on Child Labour and Education, under the theme, “Take on the Challenge of Child Labour”. It did so with the assistance of the International Labour Organisation's programme Towards the Elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour (TECL) and RECLISA Projects, that are funded by the United States of America Department of Labour.

The Conference served as opportunity for the Programme Advisory Committee on Child Labour (PACC), extended to include other ministries who have responsibilities assigned to them in the APEC, to present and endorse Namibia's draft National Action Programme towards the Elimination of the of Child Labour (APEC).

The PACC is lead by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and members include key other ministries, organized employers and workers, and NGOs.

The ultimate goal of the APEC is to reduce child labour and eliminate all of the worst forms of child labour.

The Conference issued a Declaration [click here for Declaration]. The declaration concludes as follows:

  • As child labour is clearly a problem on this continent, in this region and in Namibia and we must accept collective responsibility for solving it.
  • We therefore commit ourselves personally and by working together institutionally, to address the problems of exploitive child labour in Namibia.

Four main themes formed the basis for the sharing of experiences and the working groups that took place during the past two days. The themes are as follows:

  • Addressing the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL);
  • Social support services to children at risk or engaged in child labour;
  • Education for Child Labour Reduction;
  • Key pillars for implementation of APEC.

The recommendations from these working groups are attached as Annex B to the Conference Declaration [click here for Declaration].

The Conference Declaration and recommendations that were produced during the Conference will be used to update and inform the APEC.

On 29 January the extended PACC endorsed the draft APEC [click here for PACC resolution], and the Conference supported this resolution.

The APEC was endorsed subject to the following conditions, among others:

  • a window period of two weeks from the date of adoption this resolution to all stakeholders to consider and propose any final amendments to the APEC;
  • the APEC will be revised to reflect the proposed final amendments and the outcomes of the National Conference and on Child Labour and Education and then be submitted to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare;
  • the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and as Chairperson of the PACC, will then, in consultation with the extended PACC, consider, endorse and recommend the final version of the APEC and notify the various stakeholders accordingly.
  • the APEC will then be submitted to the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare for submission to Cabinet for their consideration and approval;

At the Conference the extended PACC further resolved that:

  • the existing PACC and Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, as Secretariat, will convene an extraordinary meeting of relevant stakeholders to decide on the structure of the body that will coordinate and monitor implementation of the APEC.
  • the time-bound APEC will be implemented through inclusion by Ministries in the national planning processes and specifically the National Development Plans and through mainstreaming in existing and proposed strategies, plans and programmes, for the welfare of Namibia’s children, especially vulnerable children.

In conclusion we would like to express our appreciation towards the U.S. Department of Labour. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare would also like to thank the International Labour Organisation TECL programme and RECLISA for their unwavering support, without which it would not have been possible to host this most important event.

Contact details

Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

Mr. Christiaan Horn

Telephone:        +264-061-206 2314 / 6111

Fax:                  +264-061-206 212 323

International Labour Organisation

Dawie Bosch or Elna Hirschfield

Tel +27 82-557-8597

Or +27 83 212-2820