Government of Trinidad and Tobagogov.tt

Media Release: The Ministry of Labour launches week of activities to commemorate World Day Against Child Labour (June 12)

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Wednesday 09 June, 2021

In commemoration of World Day Against Child Labour (June 12), this year, the Ministry of Labour (MOL) will launch a week of engaging virtual activities from Thursday June 10, 2021 to Thursday June 17, 2021.

Minister of Labour, the Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie M.P. endorses this campaign which he believes is critical at this time given that children have become more vulnerable over the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and may be required to support the income needs of the family.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the legislation which the Labour Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry enforces to protect children from child labour is the Children's Act, Chap 46:01, Act 12 of 2012:

“Part XIV of this Act under Employment of Young Persons, Section 105 states that “A child under the age of sixteen years shall not be employed or work in any public or private undertaking or in any branch thereof, other than an undertaking, owned and controlled by members of the same family; and any person who employs any such child, commits an offence”.

The Minister of Labour therefore wishes to remind all parents, employers and other stakeholders to allow children to access their education and their rights as a child and not place them into situations which would result in child labour.

Persons are also being encouraged to learn more about the accelerated end to child labour and to follow the Ministry of Labour’s social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to learn from the line-up of engaging activities: 

  • The rights of the child;
  • The law as it pertains to child labour;
  • The support services available to prevent child labour

Following the Ministry’s online launch of activities on June 10 2021, the population, inclusive of children, can look forward to:

  1. The Ministry’s Child Labour Puppet Show on World Day Against Child Labour (June 12) in which the Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie M.P. and Minister of Labour will address parents, employers and other stakeholders;
  2. A Pledgethon video which will highlight who are the champions in the fight against child labour in Trinidad and Tobago and their roles;
  3. An article on ‘Understanding the link between Sport and Child Labour’, written by UWI Lecturer, Dr. Anand Rampersad, member of the Ministry’s National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour and;
  4. A Virtual Art Showcase which will feature the art pieces from students across the country who participated in the Ministry of Labour’s "Spot Child Labour, Stop Child" Labour Art Competition.

While the Ministry of Labour embarks on these Public Education initiatives geared towards fulfilling its mandate of preventing and eliminating child labour in Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ms. Natalie Willis joins the Minister of Labour to remind citizens that there are support services available to alleviate the mental and financial challenges being faced by parents which may lead to the employment of children illegally.

These include:

The Ministry of Labour therefore calls on the population to join its campaign in the fight against child labour and work together to protect our children from child labour in Trinidad and Tobago.

For further information, please contact:
Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Labour
International Waterfront Centre
Tower C, Level 6, 1A Wrightson Road
Port of Spain,
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Tel: 625-8478 exts. 1203/1509/1208/1211/1522
Fax: 623-1404
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Launch of IYCEL Activities Final