Transcript
DONGLIN LI: Last year we had a validation workshop in PNG, so after that we were able to agree with thee priority areas in this action plan. That's why we say that we also needed to have a high-level launch, because this is part of a public awareness process.
JOHNNY BLADES: In PNG there is this problem of poverty driving families to kind of abandon children or to force them on to the streets for some sort of work. I know the ILO has recognised that in Port Moresby 47 percent of the surveyed street children had never been to school, so the education thing is important, isn't it?
DL: I think you're absolutely right. when we talk about causes for child labour, we always mention poverty, education, also household factors, this is a very complex issue. But from ILO side, we feel that any excuse cannot justify for parents to send their children to work a place. So of course this is in theory. When we come to reality, we have to consider the local context. When I visited PNG last year, December, I saw lots of street vendors - they were all children. And this time, last week, I just came back, I didn't see any children (street vendors) there. It means they have taken some action. Lots of street children because of poverty and also because education facility. One special reason is urbanisation ever changing. Because a lot of squatters and settlements, they set up around the city and migrants from these Highlands to the city, so they don't have any job, and they don't have any income, so they just send the children to the street to sell something.
JB: Looking at the establishment of a Child Labour Unit with PNG, is this a recommendation by the ILO, is it something that is actually going to happen and the government is serious about creating?
DL: Yeah, actually they have taken a few steps already. They have established a Child Labour Unit. The problem is not sufficient budget. So that's why this time we urged the government to put more money towards Child Labour Unit. Otherwise if you don't have a budget you cannot do any monitoring activities. And a second one, this also includes in this national action plan to develop a list of the worst forms of child labour. because each country is different.
