Kegalle District declared a child labour free zone
Monday, 23 June 2014 00:00
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The Kegalle District has been declared a ‘Child Labour Free Zone by 2016’ to mark World Day Against Child Labour. Sri Lanka is one of many countries who has ratified ILO conventions on child labour and has also developed a road map to achieve zero tolerance for the worst forms of child labour across the island by 2016.
The Child Activity Survey (2008/9) conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics indicates that 107,259 children (excluding the Northern Province) are entrapped in child labour, of whom 63,916 are in hazardous forms of child labour. The report has also captured hazardous forms of child labour as determined in the Ministry of Labour regulations.
According to this report, Kegalle is home to approximately 2,000 girls and boys in an exploitative employment. Many more are at risk of falling prey to child labour, given the erratic school attendance recorded. The World Day Against Child Labour was commemorated in Kegalle on 19 June, at the District Secretariat. The District of Kegalle marked this day with a declaration of making the ‘District a Child Labour Free Zone by 2016’.
The event was held at the District Secretariat and hosted by District Secretary Thusitha Wanigasinghe. Around 200 government officials were present on this occasion and signed a pledge, committing to this goal. The Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Upali Wijayaweera and ILO Country Director Donglin Li graced the occasion and congratulated the district administration for its initiative and political will to honour its international obligations. Also present was the Chief Secretary of the Province of Sabaragmuwa, who stressed the importance of education as being a critical intervention to prevent child labour, and reiterated his support to make Sabaragamuwa a Child Labour Free Province by 2016.
