/ 12 August 1999

MALAWI TO CURB CHILD LABOUR

IN a bid to curb child labour and encourage children to remain longer at school, the government of Malawi is considering raising the minimum age of legal employment from 12 to 14. The government says is looking into the issue with the help of the International Labour Organisation. Despite the introduction of free primary education five years ago, the reports said, most schools suffer from low enrollment with less than 25% of children entering primary school at the recommended age and a high drop rate.