Busia County, through the support of Action against Child Labour Project, has launched a code of conduct for the private sector with a view to preventing child labour.
Speaking during the official launch of the document, the Programme Manager Dennis Ratemo said that the purpose of the document was to encourage the private sector actors to comply with the national and county laws on child labour by ensuring that their operations and supply chains are free from exploitative practices.
“If your supplier is using children to produce goods that they bring to you, then as a private sector, you need to detect that value chain and endeavor to stop that,” he said.
Ratemo added that the document aimed at promoting awareness and accountability among the private sector actors by educating them on the harmful impacts of child labour and holding them accountable for adhering to ethical labour practices.
He further stated that the code of conduct also aimed at strengthening multi stakeholder collaboration by facilitating partnership among private sector actors, government entities, civil society organizations and communities so that they could collectively address the root causes of child labour.
The official also said that the document was meant to support sustainable solutions by providing actionable strategies and resources for businesses to adopt child friendly policies that support education, family livelihoods and community empowerment as alternatives to child labour.
Ratemo at the same time highlighted that the code of conduct aimed at creating of safe and fair working environment by ensuring that all work places within the private sector uphold children’s rights and foster safe conditions that do not exploit or engager minors.
He added that 59% of children in Busia County were involved in child labour meaning that six out of 10 children were engaged in the practice.
He further stated that 70% of children involved in child labour in Busia were employed by the private sector.
“They do not work in their firms but other people’s enterprises,” he said, adding that there was a need to engage the private sector if the bad practice has to be prevented.
The official urged the stakeholders to operationalize the document in their business premises.
“As Terre des Hommes and ICS, we are committed to working with Busia County,” he said, adding that it was the first County to launch a code of conduct for various actors.
Ratemo at the same time said that the organization has started a conversation with Machakos but it was at its initial stage.
He pointed out that the code of conduct is targeting the private sector actors in order to ensure that they adhered to the rule of law by creating responsible business conduct.
Busia County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga lauded the two organizations for supporting the production of the document adding that it would help protect the rights of the children.
Chaunga underscored the role of the code of conduct in guidance and awareness creation challenging stakeholders to implement it properly.
Stakeholders at the forum expressed their commitment to implementing the document with religious leaders promising to incorporate it in their teachings and preaching to their congregants.
By Salome Alwanda