(MHRSD) The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development set the salient features for the national policy banning child labor in the Kingdom; approved by the Council of Ministers presided over by King Salman during last week's session.
On its official website; the ministry also said what meant by child labor is employing children under the age of 15 years.
The ministry said that the minimum age for employing children is 15 years. It added that so long as Article 7 of the agreement is not contravened; children aged between 13 and 15 years can work; in specific jobs and for a specific number of hours; provided this does not violate the child's right to receive education and to play.
The ministry further said that the salient features of the national policy on child labor includes dealing with the situation of all children working under the worst kinds of child labor, in line with the criteria and standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and as mentioned in the Agreements 138 and 182, that were ratified by the Kingdom.
The ministry also added that the main features for strategic interventions to prevent child labor lie in raising the level of awareness on the issue of child labor; boosting the opportunities for children to get a good education, broadening the base for education on child labor; improving the law; enforcing it; and activating the prosecution; improving social work and the mechanisms for social protection; and enhancing suitable work for adults and the youth, who have reached legal age, making them eligible for work.
