Guyana moves to review child labour laws, regulations

The Guyana government is currently moving to review national legislation and policy framework regarding child labour in the country with the view to making possible adjustments to strengthen enforcement mechanisms related to the issue.

At present, the Labour Ministry, assisted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union (EU), is seeking a qualified consultant to conduct the review of legislation and policies. The review would look at the existing legal/ regulatory framework to analyse the gaps between the ILO Standard Conventions numbers 138 and 182, and the national legislation on child protection and education. The review, expected to commence in June, is slated for completion within six weeks.

The review is part of the Tackling Child Labour Through Education (TACKLE) Project, launched in 2008 in 11 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, including Guyana. The project seeks to help reduce poverty by providing equitable access to basic education and skills development to children involved in child labour or at risk of being involved in such a situation. The project involves strengthening the capacity of national and local authorities to better formulate, implement and enforce policies that fight child labour in partnership with social associates and civil society.

Bringing national laws into harmony with the ILO conventions is one of the first steps participating countries are expected to take under TACKLE.

The project was strategically developed through a partnership signed in 2004 between the ILO and the European Commission (EC) aimed at implementing a common mission to reduce poverty, and improve labour conditions in developing countries. The overarching purpose is to accelerate efforts against increasing poverty to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In Guyana, government embarked on the TACKLE project to reduce truancy and increase school attendance. Last year, several truancy campaigns were held in various communities to investigate whether children were suffering because of child labour.

Several activities were held to promote the reduction of child labour, including ‘World Day against Child Labour’, the ‘Red Card to Child Labour’ campaign, and posters were posted at public institutions, including schools.

The ministry has vowed this year to continue its efforts at empowering youths and providing them with jobs, to ensure safety in the workplace and reduce the occurrence of child labour and stigma and discrimination of HIV/ AIDS victims. The United States Trafficking In Persons (TIP) 2010 Report stated that the U. S. Department of Labour withdrew 984 children from employment in logging, sawmilling, fishing, hazardous farming, factory work, mining, and freight handling from 2005 to 2009. However, the Guyanese authorities have since refuted and condemned this claim. The Guyanese officials have also challenged those in Washington to produce evidence of child labour in Guyana and proof that it removed 984 children from exploitative situations here.