Significant Advances in Child Labour Reduction
Morocco has made remarkable strides in the fight against child labour, garnering international accolades for its efforts, as stated by Younes Sekkouri, the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, during a session in Rabat. In response to inquiries raised in the House of Representatives regarding the issue of child labour, Sekkouri emphasized that these advancements are a product of Morocco’s enduring commitment to championing children’s rights, bolstered by royal initiatives and the active participation of Princess Lalla Meryem, who serves as the president of the National Observatory for Children's Rights (ONDE). Since the year 2017, child labour has experienced a significant decline of 59%, bringing the current rate down to less than 1.3%, a testament to the effective measures implemented by the government.
Despite these significant improvements, the minister acknowledged that approximately 100,000 children remain involved in economic activities, predominantly in rural areas where their contributions are vital for family support. In urban settings, the estimated number of working children ranges from 20,000 to 23,000, highlighting the pressing need to continue and intensify efforts aimed at eradicating child labour entirely. Sekkouri also recalled Morocco's successful bid two years prior to host the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, an initiative that received extensive backing from the international community.
The Marrakech Framework and Future Initiatives
The conference culminated in the formulation of the Marrakech Framework, an essential international reference document delineating pivotal strategies to combat child labour. According to Sekkouri, this framework is heavily informed by Morocco's own experiences, particularly in areas such as monitoring mechanisms, legislative reforms, initiatives for the withdrawal of children from labour, and the ratification of international conventions aimed at protecting children's rights. Furthermore, the minister underscored Morocco's strategic focus on expanding access to universal preschool education, as well as enhancing integration and vocational training programs. One noteworthy initiative is the Tadaroj Programme, which is designed to assist youth aged 15 to 17 who have left formal education prematurely, thereby equipping them with skills that are essential for their future success.
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
