Morulem Sub County Leadership Passes Motion for Child Labour Bye-Law to Protect Children

Morulem, Abim District – Uganda — October 16, 2024

The leadership of Morulem Sub County has taken a significant step towards addressing the persistent issue of child labour by passing a motion to enact a Child Labour Bye-Law titled, MORULEM SUB COUNTY (CHILD LABOUR) BYE LAW. This motion, originally moved by Alany Agnes Omara, the Disability Councillor representing Katabok West Parish, aims to curb the rising cases of child exploitation, particularly among children under 18, who are often subjected to hazardous work conditions that threaten their education, health, and development.

The Bye-law, spearheaded by the Morulem Sub County Council, with support from Share An Opportunity Uganda under the Securing the Future of Labouring Children (SEFULAC) project, aligns local efforts with Uganda’s existing national child labour laws, filling the gap in enforcement at the community level. Despite Uganda having national legislation like the Children’s Act and Employment Act that prohibit child labour, many children in rural areas, including Morulem, continue to be involved in inappropriate and harmful labour. The bye-law specifically targets practices where children are employed in domestic settings or other dangerous tasks such as farming, construction, and stone quarrying, often at the expense of their education and well-being.

Key Objective of the Bye-Law:

Safeguarding Children from Exploitation

The primary objective of the new bye-law is to protect children from exploitative conditions. It prohibits children under the age of 18 from engaging in any form of labour deemed hazardous or detrimental to their physical and emotional health. Particular focus is placed on tasks that interfere with a child’s schooling or involve heavy manual labour that risks their safety.

Under the bye-law, parents and employers found employing children in such conditions will face severe penalties, including fines or imprisonment, as a deterrent against child exploitation. Local authorities will also be mandated to regularly monitor child labour practices in homes and businesses within the community to ensure compliance.

Provisions of the Child Labour Bye-Law

1. Prohibition of Child Labor for Children Under 18: The bye-law prohibits children under 18 from engaging in any form of hazardous or harmful labour.
2. Prohibition of Work Interfering with Education: The bye-law specifically targets child labour that interferes with education, ensuring that children are not involved in work that prevents them from attending school or completing their studies.
3. Banning of Hazardous Work for Children: The law bans children from working in dangerous environments such as construction, farming, and stone quarrying, or any job involving heavy manual labour that could endanger their safety.
4. Minimum Wages for Permissible Work: For children over 14 engaged in permissible light work (such as household chores or assisting in family businesses), the law establishes a minimum wage standard of UGX 5,000 per day. Employers or guardians must pay this fair wage, ensuring children are not exploited for cheap labour.
5. Penalties for Employers and Parents: Violators—whether parents, guardians, or employers—who allow or force children into illegal labour or pay them less than the minimum wage will face penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
6. Monitoring and Enforcement: Local authorities are required to regularly monitor households and businesses, investigate reported cases of child labour or wage violations, and take necessary actions against violators.
7. Awareness Campaigns: The law mandates community awareness programs to educate parents, guardians, and employers about the dangers of child labour, wage exploitation, and their responsibilities in protecting children.

Community Support and Legal Consultations

Before passing the motion, the leadership of Morulem Sub County held consultations with community members, local leaders, and legal experts. These stakeholders expressed strong support for the bye-law, recognizing the need for local regulations to strengthen national efforts in eradicating child labour. Local leaders believe the bye-law will bring about significant change, especially in rural areas where children are more vulnerable to labour exploitation due to poverty and limited access to education.

“We cannot continue to see our children working in hazardous environments that endanger their future,” said the Speaker Ojok Godfrey. “This bye-law will ensure that children remain in school and are not forced to perform tasks meant for adults. We all know these issues exist in our community, and this law will address them.”

Along Sandra, the SAS Morulem Subcounty, also urged the community members who were in the gallery to be the ambassadors of this initiative reminding them that change starts with us the community members in combating child labour in Abim, and Uganda at large.

“I will be one of the advocates for the eradication of child labour in Morulem Subcounty” she said.

Implementation and Next Steps

With the motion passed, the next phase involves implementing the law at the community level. Local leaders will conduct awareness campaigns to inform the public about the provisions of the law and the penalties for violating it. The Morulem Sub County Council is optimistic that the new law will significantly reduce instances of child labour in the region. It is expected to complement national efforts by focusing on local enforcement, ensuring that children can grow up in a safe and nurturing environment where their rights to education and protection from exploitation are upheld.

Community leaders are urging families to voluntarily withdraw their children from labor and prioritize education. By passing this motion, Morulem Sub County is setting an example for other local governments to take a firm stand against child labour and create a brighter future for Uganda’s children.