Combined action needed to implement NAP to combat child labour

Lawmakers and representatives of development organisations on Wednesday underlined the need for taking a concerted action to implement the National Action Plan for Eradication of Child Labour formulated by the present government.

Addressing a dialogue, they said collective efforts should be increased to eradicate child labour which is essential to achieving the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs.

Therefore, we have to work to increase awareness at the grassroots level in this regard from our respective positions, they added.

Incidin Bangladesh and Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum jointly organised the dialogue on formulating an outline of child-friendly upazila at Parliament Members Club in Jatiya Sangsad Complex.

The dialogue, presided over by Md Mahbubul Haque, President of Shishu Adhikar Forum, was addressed by Principal Rawshan Ara Mannan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Road Transport and Bridges, Aroma Dutta, Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, opposition lawmaker Gloria Jhorna Sarker, Julia Jesmine of the Directorate of Inspection of Factories and Establishments, Rafatur Rahman of Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Somity, Dr Saiful Alam of Apon Foundation, and Rezaul Karim of World Vision. 

Rafiqul Islam Khan, Project Manager of Incidin, presented the keynote speech at the dialogue.

MP Aroma Dutta emphasized the creation of a database of children to prevent child labour. She mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government is child-friendly and working tirelessly to ensure the safety of children. 

She added, "The government has implemented various action plans, and government, private organizations, and civil society should work together to implement those plans." 

She expressed hope that a child labor-free Bangladesh would contribute to the development of Bangabandhu's golden Bangladesh in the future.

Rawshan Ara Mannan stated that eliminating child labour from all sectors is essential for achieving the SDGs and creating a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. She specifically emphasized the need to raise awareness among poor people and reduce the number of children in these families to effectively stop child labour. 

She advocated for widespread campaigns promoting the idea of limiting the number of children to no more than two among the economically disadvantaged. She also stressed that both public and private organizations must work together to achieve this goal.

MP Gloria Jharna Sarkar stated that the government is determined to ensure the education, safety, and good health of future generations. The inspection department regularly inspects factories and establishments to ensure that no child below the age of 14 is engaged in child labour. During these inspections, children involved in hazardous work are removed from various factories. 

She mentioned that sustainable development policies, related to issues such as safety, food and nutrition, shelter and protection, and education and health for children, are being implemented under the social safety net to end child labour.

Mahbubul Haque emphasized that the program to stop child labour should be expanded nationwide in the coming days. He suggested allocating funds at the district and upazila levels and formulating appropriate plans to ensure the rights and protection of children. He also stressed the importance of involving non-governmental organizations as development partners and associates of the government.

The speakers proposed that separate allocations and guidelines should be formulated for districts and upazilas to build a child-friendly Bangladesh by 2040.

They also suggested that people's representatives and district commissioners from those areas, where child labour is eradicated, should be rewarded nationally.

Moreover, educational institutions at all levels, along with relevant ministries, divisional commissioners, district commissioners, upazila chairmen, upazila executive officers, and union parishad chairmen, were urged to be more proactive in implementing the government's action plan.