By Alhagie Babou Jallow
UNICEF has supported the Department of Labor with Information Technology (IT) equipment for use of the Department’s child labor unit. The handing over ceremony was held on Wednesday May 11th at the Labor Department’s office along Kairaba Avenue. The equipment include 5 printers, 5 laptops, and 5 sets of cartages.
In his remarks on behalf of UNICEF Country Representative, Eustace Cassell, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF, said the partnership between UNICEF and the Department of Labor is growing in strength and they hope that it will continue. He noted that child labor is in the increase in the country, and that something has to be done about it.
He explained that child labor is part of the overall child protection system, and as such, they are concerned that something is done to improve upon what is going on in terms of children having to work.
Mr. Cassell said they hope the equipment will enhance efforts to strengthen work related to child labor.
Nyallow Barrow, Commissioner of Labor at the Department of Labor, thanked UNICEF on behalf of the Department for the equipment. He attested that this gesture of UNICEF was not the first and promised that they would make the best use of the donated equipment to ensure the child unit is strengthened.
He noted that the unit was dormant but since UNICEF started supporting them three years ago there has been a lot of improvement.
Mr. Barrow also assured donors that they will put the equipment to good use, adding that their plan is to open offices across the country to combat child labor.