The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be increasing engagement with parents and other key stakeholders, as part of measures to eliminate child labour in Jamaica.

Portfolio Minister, Karl Samuda, noted that there are approximately 38,000 children, ages five to 17, who are involved in child labour in the country.

He explained that it is against this background, that his ministry wants to ensure, that there is a shared understanding of what constitutes child labour, and to separate “abject abuse” from cases where children are allowed to assist their parents, while still going to school and enjoying their fundamental rights.

He was speaking at the awards ceremony for the ministry’s child labour video competition, held in New Kingston, recently.