Over 2million children work in Uganda
Sep 24, 2003
EVERYDAY thousands of children toil in the fields, homes and streets from dusk to dawn. Some paint nails. Others work as domestic servants. Many hawk foodstuffs.
By Vision Reporter
EVERYDAY thousands of children toil in the fields, homes and streets from dusk to dawn. Some paint nails. Others work as domestic servants. Many hawk foodstuffs.
Often they work under poor conditions that impair their health and growth.
Although some of them are in school, the majority are not. According to the Child Labour Report based on the Demographic and Health Survey 2000-2001, the number of working children aged between 5 and 17, attending primary school was estimated at 1.9 million.
More than 300,000 children have no formal education. Yet, it is mandatory for all children of school going age to attend school. Child labour is an obstacle to the efforts to provide education.
Child labour refers to work, which is dangerous to the growth and development of the child. Family work, which interferes with a child’s education, recreation, physical, mental or moral health, is also regarded as child labour.
Over the years, the number of working children has increased steadily. It is estimated that there are 2.7 million working children in Uganda. Of these 54% are between 10 and14 years. Most of the working children are less than 10 years old.
Harriet Luyima, the assistant commissioner in charge of children in the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development says, 3,050 children have been rescued from hard labour.
The rapid increase in the number of child workers is attributed to poverty, HIV/AIDS and armed conflict.
“The lack of comprehensive data and information on child labour constitutes a serious gap in the effective implementation of the national programme on the elimination of child labour,’’ remarks Male Mukasa, the executive director, Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
According to the 1991 findings, about 16% of the children below 15 years were engaged in economic activities.
The Uganda constitution 1995, chapter 1, article 34(4) provides for protection of a child from hazardous and exploitative work.
“Children are entitled to be protected from social and economic exploitation and shall not be employed in or required to perform work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with their education or to be harmful to their health....â€
The legal age to work in Uganda is 18 years, except for household chores or family business.
“This provision is often violated,’’ says Livingstone Zziwa, the country director, Pat The Child, a non-governmental organisation catering for needy children. “I have never heard of anyone convicted of child labour.’’
A source in the Children and Family Protection Unit of the Uganda Police Force admits that there have been no convictions of child employers.
Livingstone Ssewannyana, the executive director, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, argues that the laws regarding child labour are abstract and consequently they cannot be enforced.
Under part II of the children statute 1996, “a child has the right not to be made to work or take part in any activity... which is likely to injure his/her health, education, mental, physical and moral development.â€
The Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) estimates that approximately 1.7 million, 20% of all children, have been orphaned by Aids. Many are forced to work to support themselves and their relatives.
According to the National Council for Children (NCC), the major challenge in enforcing child protection is the rising number of street children and orphans. Besides, resources are inadequate. Child protection is the sector given the least support.
There are no simple solutions to the children’s plight. But, as Sewannyana observes, “legislation must be backed by appropriate poverty alleviation programmes, a national employment policy and legislation on the minimum wage.â€
EVERYDAY thousands of children toil in the fields, homes and streets from dusk to dawn. Some paint nails. Others work as domestic servants. Many hawk foodstuffs.
Often they work under poor conditions that impair their health and growth.
Although some of them are in school, the majority are not. According to the Child Labour Report based on the Demographic and Health Survey 2000-2001, the number of working children aged between 5 and 17, attending primary school was estimated at 1.9 million.
More than 300,000 children have no formal education. Yet, it is mandatory for all children of school going age to attend school. Child labour is an obstacle to the efforts to provide education.
Child labour refers to work, which is dangerous to the growth and development of the child. Family work, which interferes with a child’s education, recreation, physical, mental or moral health, is also regarded as child labour.
Over the years, the number of working children has increased steadily. It is estimated that there are 2.7 million working children in Uganda. Of these 54% are between 10 and14 years. Most of the working children are less than 10 years old.
Harriet Luyima, the assistant commissioner in charge of children in the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development says, 3,050 children have been rescued from hard labour.
The rapid increase in the number of child workers is attributed to poverty, HIV/AIDS and armed conflict.
“The lack of comprehensive data and information on child labour constitutes a serious gap in the effective implementation of the national programme on the elimination of child labour,’’ remarks Male Mukasa, the executive director, Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
According to the 1991 findings, about 16% of the children below 15 years were engaged in economic activities.
The Uganda constitution 1995, chapter 1, article 34(4) provides for protection of a child from hazardous and exploitative work.
“Children are entitled to be protected from social and economic exploitation and shall not be employed in or required to perform work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with their education or to be harmful to their health....â€
The legal age to work in Uganda is 18 years, except for household chores or family business.
“This provision is often violated,’’ says Livingstone Zziwa, the country director, Pat The Child, a non-governmental organisation catering for needy children. “I have never heard of anyone convicted of child labour.’’
A source in the Children and Family Protection Unit of the Uganda Police Force admits that there have been no convictions of child employers.
Livingstone Ssewannyana, the executive director, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, argues that the laws regarding child labour are abstract and consequently they cannot be enforced.
Under part II of the children statute 1996, “a child has the right not to be made to work or take part in any activity... which is likely to injure his/her health, education, mental, physical and moral development.â€
The Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) estimates that approximately 1.7 million, 20% of all children, have been orphaned by Aids. Many are forced to work to support themselves and their relatives.
According to the National Council for Children (NCC), the major challenge in enforcing child protection is the rising number of street children and orphans. Besides, resources are inadequate. Child protection is the sector given the least support.
There are no simple solutions to the children’s plight. But, as Sewannyana observes, “legislation must be backed by appropriate poverty alleviation programmes, a national employment policy and legislation on the minimum wage.â€