Saint Lucia’s Labour Commissioner Joseph Joseph has urged citizens to report suspected child labour cases.
“By fostering a culture of zero tolerance towards child labour, we encourage individuals and communities to report suspected cases and provide support to vulnerable children and their families,” Joseph said.
On Monday, the Labour Commissioner’s remarks came in a statement to mark World Day Against Child Labour.
He explained that as part of ongoing efforts, the government and the Department of Labour will continue to strengthen the enforcement of existing laws and regulations to protect children from exploitation and hazardous work.
“We are committed to providing appropriate rehabilitation and reintegration services for children who have been affected by child labour,” the Labour Commissioner asserted.
” On this World Day Against Child Labour, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a future where every child in Saint Lucia is free from the burden of child labour,” Joseph said.
” By working together, we can create a society that nurtures and protects the rights and well-being of our children, ensuring they have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Joseph declared.
Joseph explained that child labour is complex.
He said it denies children their fundamental rights, robbing them of their childhood, education, and overall well-being.
According to the Labour Commissioner, child labour perpetuates a cycle of poverty.
He also said it hinders the nation’s social and economic development.
“We firmly believe that every child deserves the right to a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where their physical, mental, and emotional well-being is protected and nurtured,” Joseph stated.
But he noted that Saint Lucia recognises that eliminating child labour requires a comprehensive and multi-stakeholder approach.
And he explained that through a partnership with international organizations, civil society, employers, workers’ organizations, and other key stakeholders, the aim is to enhance collaboration and coordination in addressing child labour.
Well done unacceptable not in st Lucia protect our children no child labor
I want to report the lady down the road that makes her child sell green fig and dasheen by the roadside
I understand that it’s not right 4 a child 2 be used in that way BUT have your department ever thought of increasing the child maintenance allowance so parents can take better care of their children?
Lucians are too lazy that don’t apply to them and the people know that well. Why would we ask our people to have more babies when we know this statement don’t apply to us. When we go to meetings or we hear something abroad just shut up because it’s not our take. Children work when they see the parents work hard.
La Clery Massy Supermarket Parking Lot. You don’t have to look, the children will come to you! It’s been a while and no one says anything.
EMPLOYERS DONT HIRE REGULAR PEOPLE, MUCH CHILDREN SO WHEN YOU ALL PPL HEAR OF SHEIN AND OTHER COMPANIES ABROAD USEING CHILDREN TO WORK SHUT UP. THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO LUCIANS. LUCIANS TOO LAZY PARENTS SIT AT HOME WAITING FOR MAN TO FEED DEM, AND THEIR CHILDREN THEY HAVE A CHILD FOR EVERY MAN THEY SLEEP WITH, SO THE CHILDREN ARE LAZY TOO.
Re Article and JJ’s wish,at least he acknowledged that child labor is a disease and it needs an urgent cure/ Fixed.. The solution to eradicate the current status is ( MONEY).
I think the Minister should put on his thinking cap and establish a fair living wage system of $10+ per hourly work to all the working poor in St Lucia.
The parents of those children are the working poor and it must be addressed by the Ministry of Labour and employment.. Most of the kids parents are overworked and broke.. FACT! Please give the workers the some purchasing power to boost our economy… our children and families needs Some financial Stability to improve the standard of living in St Lucia…
All business should share the wealth of the island with the workers,eg The hotel’s..
The hotel workers are over worked, They deserves better salaries…. Their eyes are as RED as Fire 🔥
And that is STRESS They should be paid a fair living wage to purchase their Families needs..
JJ we need your help..
Massy Parking Lot La Clery Branch has a perfect example. Little children selling food. You don’t have look for them, they will come up to you even before you turn off the engine of your vehicle.
Those kids are our featured enterprise at least they can count $$$ They earn more than the lazy ones that don’t mind their own business and leave our featured entrepreneurs of St Lucia.. Can anyone from Castries remember the icecream vendor with the push Cart?
What the children are doing is called, the Survival of the Smartest…I was one of those children..
The business people of St Lucia must pay the parents of those children a fair living wage of 10+ per hour so their children will not Hustle and looked down on as a Stigma in our current situation. We need leaders with Vision’s and able to understand and use their Commonsense..
We have been fighting between our selves because of political parties and that is exactly what keeps us willfully ignorant of the Facts.
The Messiah created us a mind of our own…
Let’s unite as one St.lucian..in unity..
We have been fighting far too long..A $10+ minimum wage system will stop the Bleeding..
That’s all folks..
I endorse my thoughts and observations..
You guys are putting the cart before the horse — the bigger PICTURE/ISSUE which needs to be addressed immediately is CHILD ABUSE in St. Lucia. Perhaps, the abused children are forced into child labour in order for them to eat/have a roof over their head/whatever etc. etc. think about it Mr. Commissioner.
St. Lucia is only 238 square miles and I really don’t understand how issues are not addressed and corrected. There is all this Lucian talk and talk and no action – enough already.
“ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS”