Child labour remains a problem: DLPW

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Child labour remains a problem: DLPW
By The Nation 2011-05-27

The number of child labourers in Thailand is decreasing but not enough to get the country out of trade sanctions, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) told a Bangkok seminar yesterday.

While the new "15 years of free education" policy keeps more children in schools, employment of underage workers born to illegal immigrants is still widespread and difficult to control, said DLPW directorgeneral Amphorn Nitisiri.

Young workers aged 15-18 - permitted to work legally in certain jobs under International Labour Organisation (ILO) regulations - numbered 510,000 last year, compared to 580,000 in 2006 and 640,000 in 1996.

A national policy that began in 2009 and ends in 2014 is being conducted jointly with the ILO to further reduce the number of those working legally, as well as to tackle illegal employment or child slave labour.

The US has imposed import quotas on Thai products believed to have exploited child labour in Thailand. The types of sanctioned products are shrimp, clothing and certain foods made of palm sugar juice.

The DLPW seminar, which was attended by NGO officials, employers and employees and ended yesterday, aimed to seek solutions to the problem of child labour.