Staff reporter

The Government of Zimbabwe recognises and respects the rights of children and has demonstrated this through provisions made in the constitution as well as in the Labour Act (Chapter 28.01), the Children’s Act (Chapter 5.06) and the Social Welfare Act (Chapter 17.06), a Government official has said.

Presenting oral evidence on policies in place to curb child labour in Zimbabwe, before the Parliamentary thematic committee on Human Rights yesterday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavhima informed that the Ministry had three technical departments that directly deal with child labour-related issues namely Labour Administration, Social Development and Disability Affairs.

Minister Mavhima emphasised that the minimum age of admission into employment in Zimbabwe was 16 years and any employer who employed a minor in contravention of the statutes shall be guilt of an offence and liable to a fine.

“The minimum age of admission into employment in Zimbabwe is 16 years and section 11 of the Labour Act provides that no employer shall cause any person under the age of 18 years to perform any work which is likely to jeopardise that person’s health, safety or morals.

“The same section of the Labour Act stipulates that any employer who employs a minor in contravention of the statutes shall be guilty of an offence and liable to fine not exceeding level seven or to imprisonment not exceeding two years or both such fine and such imprisonment,” said Minister Mavhima.

The Minister said the Labour Act also stipulates routine labour inspections especially targeting high risk sectors such as agriculture and mining, and enforce laws related to child labour.

The Minister revealed that in 2020, a total of 1860 labour inspections were conducted at work sites despite the limitations caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. He said that in 2019, the Ministry working with stakeholders from the Tobacco industry undertook a survey to ascertain the incidence of child labour within the country. According to the Minister, the survey results indicated a 26 percent prevalence rate of child labour in the tobacco sector.

Minister Mavhima said the Ministry was currently disseminating results of the survey to all provinces with a view to raising awareness and also developing a time framed action plan to eliminate child labour in the tobacco sector through an inclusive approach.

The Ministry also removes children from the streets who may also be at risk of falling victim to child labour and exposed to abuse. Since January 2021 to date, 107 children have been removed from the streets.