Child labour : NECA launches code of conduct for members

The Nigeria Employers Association (NECA), has launched a Code of Conduct to guide practices of companies in the organised private sector towards the elimination of child labour.

The President of NECA, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, said this during the inauguration of the Code of Conduct for Employers of Child Labour, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme is “Promoting Employers Cooperate Social Responsibility (CRS) Initiatives, Human Rights Due Diligence towards Elimination of Child Labour’’.

The event was organised by NECA with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), on Accelerating Action for the Elimination (ACCEL) of Child Labour supply chain in Africa.

Adeniyi said the development of the Code was to guide the practices of companies in the organised private sector towards the elimination of child labour in the country.

According to him, it is also a practical document that gives insight into steps to be taken by companies to address child labour impacts on companies and their global supply chains.

Adeniyi said NECA had deployed some interventions, in collaboration with the ILO, to stem the practice of child labour and global supply chains in Nigeria.

“This is to accelerate progress on the elimination of child labour in the cocoa, artisanal and small scale gold mining, especially in the supply chains in Nigeria, through the ACCEL Africa project.

“ACCEL Africa, a South African project is a four-year project being funded by the Dutch Government, and which is being implemented in Nigeria, from May 2019 to Oct. 2022.

“The project is the fallout of the decision of the world leaders in Sept. 2015, to adopt the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.’’

Adeniyi said the project was among the substantive targets, set on the goal 8, which seeks to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking.

The ILO Country Director to Nigeria, Vanessa Phala, called on employers of labour to increase CSR as a response to issues surrounding working children in Nigeria.

According to Phala, increased CSR that focuses on eliminating child labour, will also reduce the vulnerabilities of children to the scourge.

(NAN)