The government is committed to eliminating child labour from the country by the year 2010.

The State Minister for Labour and Manpower MA Mannan told BSS yesterday on his return from Amsterdam attending a two-day international conference on child labour held there on February 26 and 27 last.

He said the government has already taken steps to free the country in phases from 6.3 million child labourers within the stipulated time-period.

Mannan said. We have already eliminated child labour from the garments factory through action programmes in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). International Labour Organisation (ILO). International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA) and non-

government organisations.

A total of 8000 child workers were taken under informal edu cation programme in 315 schools, the state minister said, adding two NGOs — BRAC and GSS — have been providing financial assistance to compensate their loss. They are getting a monthly stipend of Taka 300 to partly compensate their losses, the minister added.

The minister said that BGMEA has taken efforts to hire the qualified members of the families of the affected child workers, in order to compensate for their loss.

The compulsory primary education for all children and "Food for Education" would play a vital role in this regard . he added.

The government has also taken necessary steps for monitoring the situation to eliminate child labour from all sectors of the country. In this regard. he mentioned that a coordination team formed by the

representatives from the government. UNICEF. ILO. BGMEA and NGOs are working sincerely.

The Under-privileged Children's Education Programme (UCEP) is also working to eliminate child labour from the Informal labour sectors, the State Minister pointed out. Side by side, the Ministry of Child and Women Welfare is also working relentlessly for eliminating the child labour and to ensure maximum welfare to the unfortunate children, the minister stated.

Mannan said the Amsterdam child labour conference has unanimously decided to eliminate all types of child labour throughout the world within shortest possible time.

The efforts taken by the Bangladesh government to eliminate child labour were appreciated by the world community In the Amsterdam conference. he added.