ISLAMABAD: International Labour Organization (ILO), Pakistan would introduce a Monitoring and Referral System (MRS) as part of its efforts to combat child labour, especially its worst forms in the country.
In this regard, provincial and district labour officials will be imparted training for the establishment and implementation of the child labour MRS.
Rapid assessments, base line surveys and occupational safety and health studies were also being conducted to build the knowledge base at the federal, provincial and district levels under a project-Combating Abusive Child Labour-II, being implemented.
A senior official at ILO, Pakistan on Thursday said the project, having three main components is being executed with financial assistance of European Union (EU) and in collaboration with departments in Pakistan under National Time Bound Programme Framework (NTBP) 2008-16.
He said under the project an institutional mechanism has been developed to monitor the implementation process. Accordingly, he said, Provincial Coordination Committee on Child Labour was formed at each province and a Provincial Child Labour Unit (PCLU) was established to implement the decisions.
A coordination mechanism has also been established for these institutions at the federal, provincial and district levels to interact mutually. An institutional capacity assessment of the concerned government institutions including district governments and provincial labour departments has been conducted and following which these institutions will be supported by the project.
The official said first component is Holistic District Model which includes a blend of different interventions ranging from district policy level to direct support to the target children and their families.
Policy level interventions include development of the district education plan, establishment of child labour monitoring system, and create linkages with the social safety nets. Direct interventions include non- formal education for the children of age from 5-14 years and literacy and vocational training for the children of age from 15-17 years.
The official said health screening and health services are being provided to all target children while target families of the working children are linked to the micro-credit facilities and are being provided with requisite training to start their own small businesses and alternate income generation activities.
He said at the federal level, the project will assist the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) to carry out the second national child labour survey which is essential to update the child labour situation in the country.
A communication and advocacy strategy has been formulated jointly with the key national stakeholders which includes various actions at all levels to create visibility on the combat against child labour.
The Programme will also provide technical assistance to the different Ministries-Directorates at the federal, provincial and district levels to enhance the knowledge base on child labour, create linkages to other relevant issues such as education, poverty alleviation and labour protection.
He said to attract the public attention to the issue of child labour ILO would also arrange a photo competition with the theme Children in Hazardous Work.
The purpose of the national level photo competition is to engage journalists, students and general public to take photographs of children involved in child labour.
The best quality photographs will be considered for website, ILO publications, annual journalists' diaries, calendars and other public communication material. The winners would be awarded cash prize and certificate of recognition.
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