Moves to eradicate child labour by 2016

Ridma Dissanayake

The government is taking measures to eradicate child labour in Sri Lanka by 2016, Labour Department's Women and Child Affairs Division Deputy Labour Commissioner A N L Kulawansha said.

The Labour Department identified 51 types of dangerous occupations, harmful to employ anyone under 18 years following expert and scientific experiments.

The Labour and Labour Relations Ministry has taken measures to take action against persons who employ anyone under 18 years in these occupations, she said.

The 51 occupations are under 10 categories such as meat, fish and salt production, manufacture or use of pesticides, chemicals and fire, alcohol and tobacco industry, work which involves lead, zinc, cement, asbestos, mercury, chromium, nickel or cadmium, mining, quarrying or work underground, machinery and ports, leather tanning, construction work related to the armed conflict and night shifts. These have been identified as occupations harmful to children's physical and mental, Kulawansha said.

"There are many child related laws imposed by the government to eliminate child labour in Sri Lanka. But they are not enough to protect children from all dangerous situations. Parents and adults should be aware of these rules and regulations," she said.

All people have a responsibility to build a strong future generation, she said.

"Today's children are the future of Sri Lanka.

Therefore there is great responsibility for the entire country to nurture them and protect them from social evils and provide them a good education as well as a safe environment," she said.