Burkina Faso/South-West: The regional labor directorate raises awareness about child labor in the cotton fields
On Thursday, February 23, the Regional Directorate of Labor and Social Security of the South-West held a workshop in Gaoua to evaluate the "CLEAR COTTON" project and raise awareness among communities in cotton-growing areas about the dangers of child labor in the cotton fields. The workshop was chaired by the Governor of the South West region, Boureima Sawadogo.
In order to achieve the objectives of this project, it was necessary to make a plea to the special delegations of the communes of Guéguéré, Koper, Nako, Dano, Dolo and the regional delegation of the South-West so that the child labor component could be integrated into their communal development plans.The regional director in charge of labor, Brahima Pakodtogo, told us that the project was implemented in two phases: the first was to advocate with the special delegations of the communes of Guéguéré, Koper, Nako, Dano, Dolo and the regional delegation of the South-West so that the child labor component could be integrated into their communal development plans; the second was to carry out actions on the ground to protect children from working in the cotton fields.
This project was implemented from December 2022 to February 2023. "The actions consisted of field trips to see the reality on the ground and to raise awareness among cotton producers, and radio programs were broadcast in local languages and in French on the region's radio stations. And to maintain the momentum of awareness, leaflets were produced, which translate all the issues of child labor. Also, he emphasized, we were able to involve transporters to curb the scourge of trafficking, because children leave one locality for another. The defense and security forces, the judiciary, were involved so that together, we act in synergy...", says the regional director in charge of labor Brahima Pakodtogo.
The balance sheet is satisfactory, according to the first head of the Regional Directorate of Labor in the Southwest, in the sense that all planned activities have been carried out with the commitment of all actors involved.
For the Governor of the South-West region, Boureima Sawadogo, "the work has been well executed over the four months planned with achievements and shortcomings. At the end of this meeting, the actors will have to make recommendations so that the technical and financial partners and the technicians of labor and social protection get together for the protection of children against the worst forms of labor.
"And for that, he said, we must make the difference, it is not said that children should not work, they must be removed from work that prevents them from growing, from developing normally and from going to school. And the legislation on this point must be well explained by the technicians to the communities".
The beneficiaries welcome the initiative. "The notion of work is not always understood by everyone. And for the work of cotton, from the beginning to the end, chemicals intervene, also injuries can intervene, so we must be very careful in keeping children away from these cotton fields.
Source: lefaso.net
