In responding to the findings of the 2011 Guyana National Child Labour Rapid Assessment Survey, the Ministry of Social Protection has formulated a plan that includes the creation of a unit specifically to address child labour.
According to a press release from the ministry, the 2011 survey which was conducted by the Statistical Unit of the ministry revealed the existence of child labour inclusive of prostitution and in response, has formulated a plan which includes but is not limited to the following steps:
Create a unit that focuses specifically on the issue of child labour which will be expected to create strategies to address this phenomenon, including the poverty factor;
Enforcement of the requisite laws that cover child labour;
Remove working children off the streets and ensure they are in school; and
Provide more funding to facilitate labour inspections
The 2011 survey was conducted on April 4-15, 2011 among 532 children and young workers in nine areas of the country in three age categories: 15 years and younger, 15-16 years and 16-18 years.
It was funded by the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) under its Tackling Child Labour through Education (TACKLE) and among its revelations said most of the children employed were involved in selling and agriculture but in addition to which, hidden evidence of prostitution activities were discovered.
The conditions of labour at the time of the survey also, included work involving pesticides, glues, dust, fumes, and gases. In addition to which, the children were involved in activities such as begging, weeding, lifting of heavy loads and operating machinery.
A similar report on child labour was conducted by the United States Department of Labor (DOL), revelations from which were published in the September 12, 2012 edition of this publication. In addition to which, the DOL called on the then government to make public the findings of the ILO-funded survey and to finalise and adopt a policy that addresses all relevant worst forms of child labour.
