Bahamas, June 14, 2017 – Nassau – June 12 was celebrated as World Day Against Child Labour under the theme of “ In Conflicts and Disasters, Protect Children from Child Labour”. This year’s theme focuses on the negative impact of natural disasters and violent conflict on families and children.
In The Bahamas, The Ministry of Labour is committed to eradicate all forms of Child Labour including the Worse Forms of Child Labour in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the region. The Government has supported the International Labour Organization’s Regional Initiative “Latin American and The Caribbean Free of Child Labour” which was created in 2014 as an innovative instrument for intergovernmental cooperation with participation of employers and employees. The goal of this international coalition of 27 countries is to reduce the current situation of Child Labour in the Latin America and The Caribbean by 2025.
Fortunately, in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas we do not experience war, however we are impacted by natural disasters in the form of hurricanes. The Government has no information on children in The Bahamas being subjected to child labour as a result of natural disasters as national reconstruction exercises are handled by the State.
Social Programmes implemented by The Bahamas Department of Social Services, including a national school lunch programme and other successful measures for ensuring the well-being of children exist throughout The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
The Ministry of Labour continues to work closely with the National Tripartite Council which completed a Rapid Assessment on Child Labour designed by the ILO and also recommended the development of a National Child Labour Policy to establish a holistic strategy for monitoring, reporting and prevention tactics. The Ministry also looks forward to continued partnership with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Services and Ministry of National Security as we unite to combat Child Labour in every form.
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas has declared that it stands with the rest of our international neighbors to recognize June 12 as World Day Against Child Labour. We raise our voice to declare “ In Conflicts and Disasters, Protect Children from Child Labour.”
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