Child labour in the informal sector remains a challenge

The Minister of Manpower Development and Youth Employment, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface has reiterated government’s support to facilitate economic activities in the informal sector.The minister pointed out that the informal sector constitutes 70% of economic activity in the country and engages majority of the population in areas such as agriculture, manufacturing and services among others, therefore, it must be given the attention to develop. The minister was sad that a large proportion of women and children who work in the sector do so under hazardous conditions, receive low income and are exploited. He emphasized that enforcement of laws to eliminate child labour in the informal economy remains a great challenge, a situation he blamed on the breakdown of family units. “Government will leave no stone unturned in giving the required support to the informal sector to ensure growth”, he promised. Alhaji Boniface was speaking at an International conference on organising workers in the informal economy in Accra. It aims at reviewing activities of the International Coordinating Committee, (ICC), which comprises the Ghana Trades Union Congress, (TUC), Self Employed Workers Association, (SEWA) of India, Street Net International and Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC). The rest are HomeNet South East Asia and CROX of Mexico. “Observance of labour laws depends on vigorous labour inspection. Government has noticed the lapses and is working to address them.” He commended the trade unionists for their collaboration, stressing that it is important to integrate in the current era of globalisation. The ICC in 2003 held its first international conference on organising workers in the informal economy in India. The said conference resolved to work with the ILO, Global Unions and national trade union centres to redress the neglect of workers in the informal economy. It is on record that the ICC has since its inception taken various initiatives in furtherance of the resolutions. Mr. Kwasi Adu Amankwah, Secretary General of TUC said as unionists they feel duty bound to organise workers in the informal economy to improve working conditions thereby strengthening trade union activities. He observed that the sector is characterized by the absence of social security and poor working conditions.“In our view, legislation and policies must conform to ILO conventions such as protection against forced labour, right to decent work and negotiation. These standards must shape the growth in the informal economy.” He observed that the private sector has not been able to absorb the graduate unemployed workers who are compelled to seek economic activity in the informal economy. “Looking at the size of the informal economy it is imperative for government to improve conditions for those working there. For us as trade unionists, the biggest challenge remains to organize workers in the informal economy with passion, commitment, innovation and creativity,” he added.