Jakarta – Community-based organizations can play big role in providing a place for former child laborers, preventing them from returning to the worst form of labor, activists marking World Day Against Child Labor on Sunday said.
Winiarti Sukaesih, the executive director of the Indonesian Child Welfare Foundation (YKAI), said it was difficult to provide a place for former child laborers without the participation of society.
"The community is the answer," she said on the sidelines of the commemoration at the National Monument Park (Monas) on Sunday.
Ali Genrezer from the government's Child Labor Reduction program, said that last month a group of children, mostly working on the streets, established the Forum Anak DKI (Jakarta Children's Forum) community.
He said a community-based organization was important to keep children away from dangerous labor.
A Central Statistics Agency (BPS) report from 2009 showed that there were 4.05 million children – between the ages of 5 and 17 – in the labor force in Indonesia, and that 20.7 percent of them worked more than 40 hours a week in hazardous conditions.
The UN's International Labour Organization (ILO) said 115 million of the 215 million child laborers worldwide worked in hazardous conditions, where they faced risks to their health, safety and morals.
Laurend Sinaga from the women and child labor directorate at the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry said children were allowed to work, especially to help around the house.
"It's okay to ask children to sweep the floor or wash dishes at home. Children are allowed to work, however, they should not be employed," he said.
Activists marked World Day Against Child Labor across the country, including in Jakarta, South Sulawesi, Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, Papua and Jember in East Java. They hosted events such as a kite making and flying competitions, film screenings and forums to commemorate.
Hundreds of children and adults wearing yellow shirts bearing the slogan "Warning! Children in Hazardous Work. End Child Labor" attended the events.
Around 150 children, including 15-year-old Shinta and her classmates, painted kites with either pictures or words calling for an end to child labor. (rcf)