The government should initiate and review its policies and laws in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7, speakers at a national consultation said on Monday.
The SDG Target 8.7 calls for immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and end child labour in all its forms by 2025.
The national consultation on 'Elimination of Child Labour in Informal Sector: Challenges and Way Forward for Achieving SDG 8.7' was held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), a platform of child rights organisations, in support with Terre Des Hommes Netherlands and the Global March Against Child Labour organised the event.
Speaking as the chief guest, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque said concerted efforts and plans are a must to attain the SDG as the country is far away from achieving it.
Everyone will have to play a catalytic role in this regard, he added.
A separate directorate on child rights or a national commission on child rights will be formed soon to protect the child rights and end child labour, he told the meet.
At the meet, the speakers recommended reviewing the list of hazardous child labour adopted in 2013, giving special focus on ending domestic child labour, and considering possible ratification of the ILO Convention 138 on Minimum Age.
They also called for strengthening the existing social safety net programmes and implementing them effectively, addressing the current inadequacies of the apprenticeship law and implementing the NSDP 2011 properly to reach out to the disadvantaged youth of poorer families.
Labour and youth employment expert TI M Nurunnabi Khan presented a keynote paper at the event, with BSAF chairperson Dr Khawja Shamsul Huda in the chair.
Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment Sakeun Nahar Begum and Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) Md Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan and Terre Des Hommes Netherlands country director Mahmudul Kabir also spoke as special guests.
BSAF Director Abdus Shahid Mahmood gave the address of welcome.
DIFE Inspector General Md Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan laid emphasis on creating awareness and combined efforts among all quarters to end child labour.
Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment Sakeun Nahar Begum said the ministry is seriously and responsibly working to protect the rights of children on priority basis with a view to eliminating child labour by 2025.
BSAF chairperson Dr Khawja Shamsul Huda said area-based plans have to be adopted, as child labour varies from region to region.
Presenting the keynote paper, TIM Nurunnabi Khan said elimination of hazardous child labour appears to be the biggest challenge now, which should be addressed immediately.
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