Child labour in Mozambique : issues and solutions

Abstract

This study explored child labour issues in Mozambique it isan immediate and long-term effects and consequences. It is capable of exerting on the physical and general well-being of children who perform hazardous work. This feat was achieved through qualitative research methodology. Data collection was elicited by oral interviews and documental content analysisto delve on the application of theConvention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), International Labour Organization ILO and Geneva Convention relating to child labour practices in the country. This includes the relevance of present domestic laws relating to child labour as implemented in Mozambique, together with factors that contribute to the practice of child labour in the country. The oral interview data analysis was performed by breaking the interview data into significant statements and themes. This was done by comparing and determining the commonalitiesthat are prevalent in the participants’ views regarding child labour menace in Mozambique. Significant statements and themes generated during the course of the interview data analysis indicated that- hazardous job done by children, hawking, prolonged farm work, working in manufacturing/production industries, bad roads in most rural areas, poverty as the main factor militating against international laws on child labour. National laws, though well-defined, but lack implementation, early marriages, unwary of child labour laws, unemployment, protracted civil war as contributing factor but not the main cause of child labour. Government through various ministries is trying its best to extend free education to secondary school level and well-defined punishment/sanction for child law offenders. Specifically, findings from this study unveiled that a poor educational policy, a widespread poverty level which is mostly prevalent amongst families in the rural areas of the country, a lack of employment for adults, have lead to the ineffectiveness of the local child labour laws. This has in turn culminated into a somewhat non-implementation of the international laws of the CRC, ILO and Geneva Declaration on child labour to which the government is a signatory. Interestingly, this study calls on the government to extend its free educational policy from the elementary, secondary to tertiary education. The government also has to ensure that offenders of children’s rightsshould face a severe punishment.