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Fighting for the total elimination of worst forms of child labor
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
October 24, 2008

The existence of child labour in the country is not a new phenomena as this was established almost a decade ago through the Labour Force and Child Labour Surveys of 1999 and 2004. Four sectors, namely Agriculture, Domestic, Informal and Tourism were to be employing child labour. However today, due to the economic challenges, almost all sectors are potentially employing children. Since then nothing has changed for the better but it has been observed that the population of child labour seem to have increased and spread from the originally identified sectors. Now child labour is found in all the production sectors Primary, Secondary, Tertairy and especially in the informal. It is our belief that the survey to be undertaken will provide tangible evidence to our fears, that child labour is on the rise.

We all agree that children are the future generation of the country. The adult unemployment population rate is growing everyday. Therefore, the ZCTU is committed to play a pivotal role in combating all forms of child labour that deprives and dehumanizes children and hampers their social development as the future adult generation of Zimbabwe.

The ILO Convention 182 on the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour is clear. It seeks the "Elimination of all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery; use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution and phonograghic performances; involving the child in illicit activities in particular those defined in the relevant international treaties; work which by its nature or circumstances in which it is carried out is likely to harm the safety, health or morals of the children."

The trade union expectation is that the participation of workers is vital in ensuring that the future producers of the country's wealth are fully developed and groomed. It is our hope also that by eliminating child labour, family units that are the nucleus of human/manpower resources are not disintegrated leading to degeneration, that would result in a lack of identity crisis.

The ZCTU is worried that little efforts so far have been taken in addressing and identifying the all stakeholders. The challenges that lay ahead need all concerted efforts to tackle the damage already done and any damage that may threaten the future generations, through forced labour.

Indeed at our 6th Congress in 2006, it was resolved that the ZCTU work towards the elimination of all Worst Forms of Child Labour. This was reinforced by our Five Year Strategic Plan which has provision for training Child Labour activists and embarking on awareness programmes on the child.

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