Youths and children are invaluable sources of the country as their development role is of great importance in shaping the future of a country.
As the population of youths and children hit one billion across the world, accounting for 18 per cent, they face gaps and diversities of economy, social and technological development as well as a culture among regional countries and civil society organizations.
As part of accepting the national duty, administrative bodies, relevant ministries, CSOs, NGOs and INGOs need to emphasize working in concert for the elimination of child labour in Myanmar.
The majority of child labour can be seen at various factories, garment industries and other odd-job works because of poverty, lesser learning opportunity as they try to contribute to respective families for solving problems of needs.
Socio-economic crises turn over youths and children into child labour without the chance to learn education. These crises are concerned with natural disasters, food insufficiency and some internal conflicts.
Actually, concerted efforts can achieve success in one day. Hence, the government, the relevant organizations and people should join hands with one another to eliminate child labour from workplaces and resettle them at schools with creating learning opportunities.
The census issued by the International Labour Organization in 2017 stated 88 million females and 64 million male workers, totalling some 152 million, are working as child labour, about 73 million of whom are at dangerous workplaces.
The State Administration Council is striving to eliminate child labour in the country with concerted efforts in re-constituting the Myanmar National Committee for Elimination of Child Labour, comprising 39 members led by the Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council.
In fact, just the removal of child labour from the workplaces cannot reduce their number. That is why it is necessary to implement a better plan to create the chance for all child age children to attend schools, help strengthen the civil society organizations and alleviate poverty with increasing family income.
The first five-year plan prioritizes the elimination of child labour in Yangon, Bago and Ayeyawady regions and Mon and Kayin states by taking education, job opportunities, family situation and poverty issues into consideration.
Actually, concerted efforts can achieve success in one day. Hence, the government, the relevant organizations and people should join hands with one another to eliminate child labour from workplaces and resettle them at schools with creating learning opportunities.
