Panama needs millions to end child labour

Panama: Nearly 187 million dollars are needed to eradicate child labour in Panama until 2025, as part of efforts encouraged by the International Labor Organization (ILO) to fight that scourge worldwide.

ILO experts in the Central American country said that at the end of 2008, there were 89,767 minors between 5 and 17 years of age in the labour market.

The mentioned resources would be used to improve education offers, and fund direct actions against that problem.

Experts from the University of Panama pointed out the highest number of working children are reported in indigenous areas, with 29,373.

The scourge is also found in other regions such as Panama (18,441), Chiriqui (9,834), Veraguas (8,724) and Cocle (7,990), among others. According to employment categories, 61.4 percent of children work in family businesses, 18.3 percent in private entities, and 4.2 percent in the domestic service.

Panama, Prensa Latina