KARACHI: Chairperson of Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Iqbal Detho emphasised need to activate Provincial Coordination Committee on Child Labour, which is to be established under Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act, 2017.

 Speaking at meeting of Technical Working Group on Child Domestic Labour organised by Legal Rights Forum (LRF) at local hotel he pointed out that despite fact child labour law was made in 2017 so far important body for implementation of law that is Provincial Coordination Committee on Child Labour is not established.

 Committee is empowered under law to advise provincial government to make or amend appropriate legislation, take administrative and other measures for eradication of child labour as per international instruments and to set minimum age, for employment in province. Currently, under this act, child below age of 14 years cannot be employed in Sindh.

 Member National Commission on Rights of Child Pirbhu Satyani said that there is no separate law for child domestic labour in any province or at federal level. He underlined need that either separate law or amendment in existing laws to be made to contain child domestic labour.

 He recommended that all stakeholders including government officials, parliamentarians and civil society should agree to outlaw child domestic labour through an amendment to existing laws like Sindh Child Protection Authority Act.

 LRF Chief Executive Officer Tahir Iqbal said his organisation plans to develop set of recommendations for draft legislation on child domestic labour. For this purpose, he said consultations have been held with parliamentarians, government officials and non-state actors for this purpose.

 Director General of Sindh Child Protection Authority Asghar Ghanghro said that Authority is working for protection of children. For containing child domestic labour he suggested that labour department should evolve mechanism.

 He said there should not be duplication in legislation and clear-cut mandate be provided for protection of working children from exploitation and violence.

 Aslam Sheikh, member of SHRC, Rana Asif Habib Executive Director of Initiator Human Development Foundation, Shahid Shafiq senior Faculty member Sindh Judicial Academy, Amir Mugheri Provincial Manager Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services and Mahmood Ahmed advocate also spoke.