National News

Salima District Council fights child labour

Salima District Council labour officer Macdirrex Chavala says they will intensify patrols along Lake Malawi shores to ensure that children are not involved in fishing activities.

In an interview, the official said they noticed that fishers were recruiting children in fishing activities.

Children sell fish at the lake

Said Chavala: “Fishers employ children in fishing activities because they are a form of cheap labour.

“However, child labour is against the country’s laws and it violates children’s right.”

He also said many children drop out of school because they want to make money at the lake.

Chavala said they have engaged area development committees to prevent children from engaging in fishing activities.

In a separate interview, Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education Salima district coordinator Joseph  Magaleta said the country’s Constitution forbids child labour.

He said: “There is a provision in the Constitution that says children aged between 15 and 17 should be allowed to work for three hours only in a non-hazardous condition.

“So, seeing children working in the fishing industry throughout the day is a threat to their lives.”

On his part, Traditional Authority Makanjira commended the council’s initiative.

“I will engage my subjects on the matter. We want children to be in school and not spending time at the lake,” he said.

Salima is one of the lakeshore districts where children are involved in fishing.

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