Many  Malawian children in child labour, government, NGOS concerned

37 percent of the children in Malawi  out of the population of 3.8 million children  are in child labour,it has been learned.

Speaking to the press in the capital city of Malawi, Lilongwe, Limbani Kakhome programme manager of Together ensuring Children’s security  told the press  child labour has led to a situation where many children have dropped out of school which is detrimental to the socio economic development of the country.

He said 52 percent of the children involved in child labour are in agriculture saying there is need for government and non governmental organisations to join hands to ensure that estate owners are not employing children.

In July last year government and non governmental organisations formed the child labour network to exchanger information of child labour as well as child traficking to curb the malpractice.

However, little has been done to fully implement the programme because of lack of funding.

The network is supposed to alert stakeholders on child trafficking and child labour  such as the police, government social welfare offices, labour officers, information officers as well as non governmental organisations.