Labour Department, ILO and UNICEF Host Online Child Labour Policy Workshop

Belmopan. November 29, 2021. 4:40 p.m.  

On November 26, 2021, the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government, National Child Labour Committee (NCLC), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) held an online workshop to discuss the first draft of Belize National Child Labour Policy and Strategy.  

The workshop began with an introductory session, which highlighted Belize’s child labour findings in the form of a situation analysis and draft action matrix. This was followed by several discussions by the participants, who also provided input to the policy’s timeframe, outcomes, contents, format, and targets. This session will be followed by the second and final workshop to be held in January 2022.  

The National Child Labour Policy is expected to be implemented in February 2022 and will serve to achieve the following objectives: 

  1. the prevention of worst forms of child labour 
  2. the withdrawal and rehabilitation of victims of child labour 
  3. the reintegration of former child labourers into school or non-hazardous work to promote child labour awareness and advocacy. 
The workshop was attended by key stakeholders including tripartite partners of the National Child Labour Committee (comprising representatives from the government, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Citrus Growers Association, Blue Creek Mennonite Community, the Department of Youth Services, and Fairtrade International.  

The Labour Department thanks all the participants who attended the workshop and looks forward to their invaluable contributions in the future as the work continues in ensuring the protection of vulnerable children in Belize.  

Ends