Govt to Check Out 3,000 Child Workers

VIVAnews - The Indonesian government will check out 3,000 children in 13 provinces and 50 regencies/municipalities in Indonesia from their work. They will be included in an assistance process as part of transitional phase toward schooling.

Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, Muhaimin Iskandar, said the said amount is a target set for 2010.

The minister, also the Chairman of National Committee for the Eradication of Worst Jobs for Children (KAN-PBTA) summoned the provincial governments to seriously implement the child-worker withdrawal program as well as supervise its operation.

"The program must be one of the prioritized programs in the provinces," he said in Jakarta today.

According to him, the project will be carried out in three phases within the next 20 years as a commitment to eradicate child-workers. In addition, the Indonesian government have also ratified the ILO convention on minimum ages allowed for workers.

Muhaimin also emphasized possible sanctions that parents may receive on child employment.

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Translated by: Bonardo Maulana W