/ 12 April 2007

Labour Dept to raise awareness on child labour

The Labour Department will kick-start a campaign to expose the ”scourge of child labour” on Monday with roadshows in Cape Town, Polokwane and Kimberly, it said on Thursday.

Managers of the Department of Labour will speak about the extent and gravity of the problem in South Africa and will lead the campaign.

Zolisa Sigabi, the department’s spokesperson, said in a statement that 36% of children aged between five and 17 did some form of economic activity exceeding three hours in any given week.

”This translates to 4,8-million children involved in economic activity in South Africa and we find this unacceptable. We are also worried to learn that about 1,7-million children do at least 12 hours economic work per week,” she said.

According to Section 43 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, it is illegal to employ a child below the age of 15 even if the child requests to be employed.

However, the law allows children between the ages of 15 and 17 to work if there are protective mechanisms in place. ‒ Sapa