Child Labour Project launched in Belize
To eradicate and prevent the exploitation of children, the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and the Sugar Industry has launched a Child Labour Project. Presently there are no statistics available on how many children are out of school and illegally working. However, it is strongly suspected that the problem does exist, especially in Corozal. The first of its kind programme is managed by the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse. NOPCA’s Executive Director, Lorna McDougal, says the project will include a district wide research targeting ten communities.
Lorna McDougal, Executive Director, NOPCA
“We do not know what the true situation is. One of the first things we plan to do is conduct an assessment of particularly the Corozal area. In addition to that, the government has planned also to conduct a national survey to look at the situation. We do know, however, that child labour is a problem in the Caribbean and Latin America. Seventeen percent of the children in the region work and seven percent of that amount make up a global figure for children in the Caribbean and Latin America so we believe that Belize is no exception.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Why are you primarily focusing on Corozal?”
Lorna McDougal
“We did not have any choice in choosing the area and I suspect the minister who signed the ILO Convention decided to make Corozal a pilot project because as you know there are several industries in the Corozal area including agriculture and the cane industry is there. I suspect that those factors made it the area of choice for the time being. I must also say this is a one year pilot project and according to how this goes, if it goes well or if it is successful, then the project will move to other areas for instance into the banana industry and the citrus belt.”
Once the research is completed, McDougal says they will be looking at ways to help the families who have been affected. The children, however, will be placed in a rehabilitation programme, which will assist them to return to school. The project is being funded by USAID and FUNPADEM, a regional organisation promoting peace and unity in Central America.
