Tanzania, Brazil support the ILO campaign to end child labour in cotton farming

BARIADI: TANZANIA and Brazil have held a three-day meeting aimed at strengthening efforts to eliminate child labour in cotton farming through the Cotton Wealth Decent Work project implemented under the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Speaking during the meeting, ILO National Project Coordinator Glory Blasio said the initiative focuses on promoting safe working environments, occupational health, and social protection in order to reduce conditions that push children into farm work.

She noted that economic challenges facing some families continue to force children into cotton production instead of attending school, calling for stronger collaboration between governments and stakeholders to address the problem.

ALSO READ: Tanzania and Congo seek to revive ties in diplomacy, security, agriculture, energy sectors

Assistant Director of Social Protection at the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities), Frank Kilimba, said the use of technology and improved farming methods can help reduce reliance on child labour while increasing productivity for farmers.

For her part, Simiyu Regional Labour Officer Hadija Hensi said the government has continued to educate communities on the dangers of child labour and the importance of keeping children in school, stressing that national laws prohibit employment of children under the age of 14.