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The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) extends full support to the Department of Labour’s campaign to create awareness and combat child labour in South Africa.  Various forms of child labour exists and persists in different countries including South Africa, where labour market practice of child labour, associated with vulnerabilities and innumerable circumstances  in households force children to work. By its very nature, and the conditions in which it is carried out, child labour deprives children of their childhood, mental and physical welfare, thereby impacting on their health, cognitive and developmental abilities. This process not only erode natural progression from child to adulthood, but is a clear violation of children’s rights and a form of exploitation that should be prohibited in our country, said Martle Keyter, FEDUSA Vice President Social Justice.

Albeit there are legislation such as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Child Care Act, FEDUSA considers it important through collaborative action to strengthen the implementation of these acts and to combat child labour. It is necessary for our government to adopt the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions regarding the prohibition of child labour, so as to strengthen the effectiveness and regulation of existing legislation at all spheres of Government, emphasised Keyter.

Although South Africa has made significant advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of Child labour according to the 2013 findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, continued efforts must be dedicated to eradicate the practice in totality. The Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013, which is a comprehensive national anti-trafficking law that includes specific provisions for child trafficking has been welcomed, but the Act has yet to be fully implemented. However, children in South Africa continue to engage in child labour in agriculture and domestic service sectors. In addition, Government social programs to address child labour do not match the scope of the problem.

This persistence of child labour is rooted in poverty and lack of decent work for adults, lack of social protection, and a failure to ensure that all children are attending school through to the legal minimum age for admission to employment. The Federation believes that in addressing child labour, it is also imperative to acknowledge the underlying causes and the broader context of vulnerability that children find themselves in, due to the problems poverty and unemployment affecting their households. The creation and provision of decent work for our citizens is critical to address the socio-economic problems and elude the subsequent consequence, being child labour. Furthermore, it is also critical to break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage among our citizens by focusing on ensuring access to quality education and training opportunities for better social and economic development of South Africa and its citizens.

The future of our country is positioned in the capabilities of our children. Collaborative action by government, business, labour and community is thus essential to protect the rights of our children, strengthen national capacity to enforce legislative measures and increase public awareness against all forms of child labour in our country concluded Keyter.

Issued by The Federation of Unions of South Africa