In one place, withdrawn children were being sent to work as domestic workers to continue a supply of income to parents and action is being taken to make parents aware of the importance of putting their children into school. One estate has even built school facilities and vocational training schools have been set up. Parents themselves are being encouraged to take work on the estates. In one place, the ban on child labour was harshly criticized and it is clear that improvement of economic conditions is a major factor in helping families keep their children from labour. There is even a perception among the community that a ban on child labour is cruel as it creates more economic hardship.
Health is also a major problem.
ATE is working towards solutions to these problems by engaging the community, the estates and local authorities to work together to provide alternatives and guarantee education. ATE is currently carrying out a tracer study in order to determine the status of ex-working children who were withdrawn from the estates and plantations in previous years. The study is expected to show whether children have been mainstreamed into schools or whether they have been absorbed into other more hazardous types of work. Back to Top Updated by Magic Software .