19pc children in Afghanistan engaged in child labour: OCHA

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (UNOCHA) in Afghanistan says nineteen percent children are engaged in child labour in the country.

However, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) says efforts are underway to do away with the stigma of child labour.

OCHA on the occasion of World Day against Child Labour wrote on its X handle: “In #Afghanistan, 19% of children are engaged in child labour.”

It said: “This is a grave concern for their well-being and future. We must work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment. #WorldDayAgainstChildLabor”

However, Samiullah Ibrahimi, spokesman for MoLSA, in a video clip said his ministry was trying to prevent child labour and address children’s problems.

He said MoLSA had established orphanages for parentless children in capital Kabul and other provinces and provided poor families with vocational trainings.

kk/ma