Child labour forces 120 children out of school in Mchinji within 3 months

Labour activists are expressing concern that 120 children have dropped out of school between January April in 2016 due to child labour.

Clear Labour Elimination for Real Action executive director Anderson Ndasauka said the future of children is dizzy as they drop out of primary school and forced to work in tobacco estates and do other child labour jobs.

“We must do someting to control the situation. The situation is getting out of hand,” he said.

He suggested those employing under age children should be arrested and charged with relevant offences to deter other would be offenders.

“They take advantage of high levels of poverty to recruit under age children. They usually pay them peanuts, taking advantage of the poverty and their age,” said Ndasauka.

He said efforts are being made to bring the 120 children out of the child labour and get them back to schools.

It is estimated there are over 5000 children in child labour mainly in tobacco estates and in homes where they work as maids.

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