my speech at a child labour meeting- 21/12/07

SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR LABOUR, MS EUNICE CHIPANGULA AT THE OPENING OF A FINAL MEETING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LIST OF HAZARDOUS WORK FOR CHILDREN, December 21, 2007 AT KAMBIRI HOLIDAY RESORT IN SALIMA



The Labour Commissioner
Unicef Representative
ILO/IPEC Representative
Representatives of MCTU, ECAM, COMATU
The consultant Mrs Fiona Mwale
Distinguished participants
Ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure and privileged to preside over this final meeting on drafting the list of hazardous work for children in Malawi which is to be added to the Employment Act.
I am delighted because what we are to do here is part of the Ministry’s efforts in ensuring that labour administration matters are effectively handled for the betterment of the Malawi society especially children.

Ladies and Gentlemen, hazardous child labour has been defined as work which by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. I am told that this is the final meeting in which the list will gradually be adopted then gazetted. Without hazardous work list, it is difficult to know where and on what to concentrate action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as you may be aware, today’s children are tomorrow’s future and if we invest in them and protect our children today, we will be assured of a healthy generation of tomorrow. As the saying goes, the best preparation for tomoroow is to make sure that today’s work is superbly done, hence the importance of your seriousness at this meeting. On its part, government is committed towards ensuring that our children are safe and well protected in any forms.
That is why the Employment Act and the Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act prohibit employment of children in hazardous work for children under the age of 18. The Development of these regulations containing the list of hazardous work will therefore enhance the efforts to protect our children from such an environment.
Since previously there was no list attached to the Employment Act, I have the hope that the list which is being prepared after a lot of consultations with various stakeholders including employers and workers organizations will be finalized at this meeting.
Let us take note that when children are working in hazardous environment, they are exposed to accidents and illnesses arising from inhaling, absorption and ingestion of or contact with harmful substances in the workplace. Taking their welfare at heart today will therefore be good for the nation.
As we are gathered here, there is therefore need to finalise the list in cponsistent with other international labour standards so that thereafter it is formalized and given a legal force by attaching it to the Employment Act.

Ladies and Gentlemen, after formalizing the list, there will therefore be a need to promote its use. Parents, employers, workers, NGOs and the community at large will have to be informed about this list. Raising awareness will lead to stopping practices done out of ignorance as well as those undertaken with approval from parents and employers.
In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me take this opportunity to thank UNICEF for their financial and technical assistance given in order to convene this meeting as well as for their untiring efforts in promoting the fight against child labour.

I thank you all for listening and I say let us strive to eliminate hazardous child labour as a matter of urgency and make Malawi child labour free.
May the Lord bless all the children of Malawi. I thank you for your attention.