The national labour ministry organized a two-day consultative workshop on child labour in Wau with the support from the International Labour Office.
The consultative meeting aimed to build consensus about the draft list of hazardous work for children and how to address circumstances facing the children, Voice of Hope reported.Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development Undersecretary Hellen Achiro Lotara said the workshop gives state and related institution the opportunity to discuss and contribute to determine what constitutes child labour in South Sudan.
Ms Achiro said hazardous work is very harmful to the health, safety and morals of children.
She noted that children’s participation in household works that did not affect their health and personal development or interfere with schooling was generally regarded as very positive.
Ms Achiro said 35 per cent of children are engaged in child labour in informal sectors like herding, pushing wheelbarrows, shoe shining, working in backyard garages and street vending.
She said these works can expose children to abuse, both physical and verbal.
Ms Achiro said many working children are school dropouts due to lack of care.
She called on parents, employers, workers, NGOs, government and the community at large to protect the children from hazardous works.