Eliminating Child Labor in Belize

A closing ceremony was held this morning in Belize City for the Child Labor Campaign.  The ceremony brought to an end a month-long awareness campaign carried out with nineteen high schools across the country.  The event served to emphasize government’s commitment, including the Ministry of Labor, to maintain its efforts to promote child welfare and development.

Oscar Requena

Oscar Requena, Minister of Labor

“The elimination of child labor is a moral, legal and social imperative.  It is also a key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, especially Goal 8 which calls for the promotion of decent work and economic growth and the end of all forms of child labor.  To achieve this goal we need to act now and act together.  We need to raise awareness, mobilize resources, strengthen laws and policies among others.  The Government of Belize is committed to eliminating child labor in all its forms and ensuring that every child has the right to education, health protection and participation.  The Government of Belize, being a member state of ILO, ratified convention 138 on minimum age on convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor in 2002.  The ministry continues to provide child labor education and sensitization sessions in all workplaces.  Early this year, the ministry has conducted several child labor educational sessions to parents, students, teachers, farm owners, community leaders and other social partners to build awareness.”