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ILO help sought to eradicate domestic child labour
View(s):Child Affairs State Minister Rosy Senanayake has sought the International Labour Organisation’s assistance in eradicating domestic child labour in Sri Lanka.
Ms. Senanayake with Bijoy Raychaudri, ILO’s director in charge of child labour issues
Her request came when she met Bijoy Raychaudri, the project director of the Global Action Programme on child labour issues of the (ILO) at her the Ministry.
She said the Government would adopt a zero tolerance policy towards domestic child labour in strict accordance with the ILO’s declaration. The urgent need ofor measures to eradicate commercial sexual exploitation of children was also discussed at length mainly in the context of the booming tourism industry in Sri Lanka.
On the ’hidden issue’ of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, the ILO stated it has developed a methodology to gather necessary statistics and could commence the process if there is a formal request from the government. The Minister instructed National Child Protection Authority Chairperson Natasha Balendra to take necessary steps in that regard.