Mohammad Ali Shahin, Project Coordinator, YPSA, presented the concept paper in the meeting chaired by Mr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Director, Chittagong Divisional Labor Department.
He said several thousand of children of the country are working in different hazardous jobs. We get reports of child abuse in the media at different times. Children are victims of physical and mental abuse at work aswell. The economic and social impact of the pandemic will further increase the child labor in the future, new plans will have to be adopted keeping in mind the previous plan to eliminate child labor.
Abdullah Al Shakib Mubarrat, Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Factory and Establishment Inspection, Chittagong, said the elimination of child labor is a challenging task. Because of the poverty associated with it. There is no doubt that Covid:19 will have a negative impact on the economy of Bangladesh. However, the government is determined to deal with the situation.
Mr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Director, Chittagong Divisional Labor Department, said, “It is the responsibility of the state, society and all of us to protect the rights of children. The Bangladesh Labor Act, 2006 specifically defines the Child. Initiatives should be taken to eradicate child labor and government agencies as well as NGOs involved in these causes can be involved.
The meeting was attended by Robert Kamal Sarkar, Chittagong Representative of International Development Organization World Vision Bangladesh, Jubayer Rashid, an official of Ghasful and representatives of various non-governmental organizations such as Caritas, ILMA and BITA. Everyone presents their valuable feedback on the elimination of child labour considering the impact of the pandemic.
