UN agency to help Pakistan curb practice of child labour

United Nations, May 23 (UNI) The International Labour Organisation, a UN agency, has partnered with the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, for a five-year project to help Pakistan curb abusive child labour practices and take 10,000 children out of hazardous workplaces.

The 5.2 million euro scheme will focus on children working in conditions ranging from exposure to chemicals and other harmful substances to long, tedious working hours.

The ''Combating Abusive Child Labour II'' programme will be implemented by the ILO, in cooperation with such bodies as the Ministry of Labour and Manpower, provincial labour departments, employers and workers organisations, local governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), research institutions and the news media.

The director of the Pakistan office of ILO, Donglin Li, underscored yesterday his agency's commitment to curbing the worst forms of child labour by 2016 within the framework of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

UNI XC CS RN0712