Staff Reporter:
The government is formulating the National Program of Action (NPA) 2026-2030 to eliminate child labor from the country by 2030.
The National Program of Action for the Elimination of Child Labor 2021-2025 is being reviewed and a new National Program of Action is being formulated for the period 2026-2030, said an official docu-ment prepared by Ministry of Labor and Employment.
The NPA is a government strategy, developed with partners (ILO, UNICEF) to eliminate child labor in Bangladesh, focusing on legal reform, better inspections, social protection, skills training, and poverty reduction to protect children from hazardous work and ensure their education.
Key activities of the NAP include aligning national laws with ILO conventions, strengthening inspection systems, creating child labor policies; addressing root causes like poverty through social safety nets, providing livelihood support for families, and basic needs for children; withdrawing children from haz-ardous works, providing skills training for safe trades, ensuring access to education, and offering reha-bilitation services; and raising public awareness about child labor issues and children’s rights.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh implemented the NPA 2021-2025 aiming to eliminate worst forms of child la-bour by 2025.
Child labour is a social menace and that is why the government is committed to eradicating it.
In the last one year, 3,453 children have been withdrawn from child labour and 16 cases were filed in this regard. Of the cases, seven cases have been settled, the document said.
A total 11,691 special inspections, 608 motivational meetings and 60 trainings were organized to elimi-nate child labor, while 347 child daycare centers have been established for female workers at garments and other factories.
In one year, maternity welfare benefits were ensured for 1,270 female workers, while financial benefit amounting to over Taka 32.65 crore was provided to them.
These initiatives have increased the confidence of working women – making their workplaces safer, ac-cording to the document.
