Luanda – Angolan minister of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security Teresa Rodrigues said Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, that the country has, in recent years, made “moderate progress” in its strategy to eliminate child labour.
The minister was speaking at the 110th International Labour Conference, held in-person and online until 11 June.
She said that in its fight against this phenomenon, the country has launched several initiatives, including the National Action Plan for Eradication of Child Labour in Angola (PANETI).
This is an Executive programme that contains integrated measures to be implemented until 2025, aimed to guide the work of agents in the practical application of children’s rights.
According to the minister, all this work was legally supported by Presidential Decree No. 239/21, of 29 September – PANETI, and, at the same time, Presidential Decree No. 168/21, of 14 October which creates the Multi-sector Commission for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labour.
Data from the National Children’s Institute (INAC) put at 573 the number of child labour victims in the country, between January and May 2021, with most involved in the exploitation of aggregates and farms.
Teresa Rodrigues also recalled that the Executive proposed an increase of around 50% in the national minimum wage in the different economic groups, such as agriculture, transport and services, and manufacturing industry.
The intention is to increase the purchasing power of workers in the private sector.
As for mandatory social security, the official explained the sector has faced several challenges linked to the fundamental axis of the National Development Programme 2018-2022.
In order to deal with this challenges, more benefits and regimes have been created, such as the Legal Regime for Sportsmen, the Regime for Insured Persons with Suspended Bonds, as well as Incentive and Support Measures for the Economy.
Source: Angola Press News Agency