By Burnett Munthali
MZUZU, Malawi – The Malawi Government has intensified its campaign against child labour by strengthening workplace inspections, expanding community awareness programmes and promising tougher action against individuals and organisations that exploit children.
The renewed commitment was announced during the commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour at Ekwaiweni in Mzimba District, where government officials, lawmakers, development partners and community leaders reaffirmed their determination to keep children in school and out of hazardous work.
Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation Joel Chigona said the ministry has stepped up inspections in farms, factories, mines and other workplaces where children are vulnerable to exploitation.
He said district labour offices have also been empowered to intensify community sensitisation campaigns aimed at educating parents and guardians about the harmful effects of child labour and the long-term consequences it has on families and national development.
Chigona warned that allowing children to abandon their education in favour of work undermines the country’s future by depriving it of skilled professionals.
“Child labour is a harm to the children, parents and the nation at large because if we allow children to drop out of school to work, we are robbing this country of future doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals,” he said.
The minister stressed that the government will continue imposing tougher penalties on perpetrators of child labour regardless of their nationality, social standing or background.
He added that protecting children requires a united effort involving government institutions, parents, communities, traditional leaders, civil society organisations and development partners.
Member of Parliament for Mzimba North East, Catherine Gotani Hara, acknowledged that child labour remains a serious challenge in her constituency, where some children continue to work in brick-making, sand mining and quarrying.
She said lasting solutions will require coordinated action between government authorities, local leadership and communities.
Gotani Hara revealed that Members of Parliament in Mzimba, working alongside Area Development Committees, have agreed to establish child protection committees in every Traditional Authority to strengthen local efforts to combat child labour.
She also said communities are collaborating with government and development partners to introduce by-laws discouraging families from involving children in mining and other hazardous forms of labour.
While welcoming the government’s renewed efforts, Gotani Hara called for greater investment in social protection programmes and expanded vocational and skills development centres to improve household incomes.
She noted that poverty remains one of the leading drivers of child labour, forcing many vulnerable families to depend on children’s earnings for survival.
Learners also used the occasion to highlight the importance of improving education infrastructure as part of the broader fight against child labour.
Grace Chawinga, a Standard Seven learner at Ekwaiweni Primary School, appealed to the government to construct modern classrooms and improve learning facilities to encourage children to remain in school.
She also urged authorities to strengthen enforcement of compulsory education policies to ensure every child has access to quality education.
Chawinga described education as the most effective safeguard against child exploitation and the foundation for a brighter future.
As part of the commemoration, Ekwaiweni Primary School received textbooks and other learning materials from development partners to support quality education and improve learning outcomes.
This year’s World Day Against Child Labour was commemorated under the theme: “Red Card to Child Labour, Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.”
The theme underscores the importance of eliminating child labour while promoting decent employment opportunities for adults and creating safe environments where children can learn, grow and realise their full potential.
As Malawi intensifies its efforts to eradicate child labour, the government says stronger law enforcement, community participation, poverty reduction initiatives and sustained investment in education will remain central to protecting children’s rights and securing the nation’s future.
