State Administration Council Member Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae addressed the 6th Coordination Meeting of Myanmar National Committee on Elimination of Child Labour yesterday.
At the event, the Union minister, in his capacity as Chairman of the committee, talked about the reformation of the Myanmar National Committee on Elimination of Child Labour on 24 August 2023 with 36 members, ongoing national tasks carried out by respective working committees, and completion of works out of 17 facts approved at the 5th meeting except six goals to be carried out sustainably.
He continued that the child labour elimination activities aim to promote awareness and knowledge concerning child labour, ensure the qualification of Union and regional/state-level organizations to settle child labour problems, designate responsibilities, and implement child labour elimination long-term plans through progress assessment.
The national-level work project is estimated to implement three five-year short-term and one 15-year long-term programmes. The first five-year short-term plan was approved in January 2019 under six goals: collecting precise basic facts, conducting awareness and ability promotion campaigns, generating educational and vocational opportunities, improving legal matters including amendment of laws and implementations, eliminating the worst forms of child labour and carrying out rehabilitation, and generating better employment vocational opportunities for families.
As per the national-level first five-year action plan for elimination of child labour, tasks for reduction and elimination of child labour are being taken in the first short-term five years from 2019 to 2023 in the prioritized fields of industrial manufacturing sector and commerce sectors in Kayin and Mon states and Bago, Yangon and Ayeyawady regions of the 14 regions and states.
He also stressed that the ASEAN prioritizes the elimination of violence against children and the worst forms of child labour. Moreover, the social organizations also focus on “no child left behind”.
He then stressed the need to raise awareness programmes regarding child labour elimination activities focusing on child labour and their parents and to hold national/regional/state level ceremonies marking World Day Against Child Labour on 6 June and conduct other educating activities regarding child labour.
He also highlighted the key role of the physical and psychological development of children in shaping the future of the country. He urged the committee members and ministries concerned to work together.
Then, Committee Vice-Chairman Union Minister U Myint Naung, secretary of the committee Deputy Minister U Win Shein and relevant officials explained the national-level work plans to eliminate the child labour and activities of eight core working committees. — MNA/KTZH
