Red card to child labour: Zambia unites to protect every child, promotes school sensitization

Chipangali, Zambia- Zambia has renewed its commitment to ending child labour, with government, traditional leaders, workers, employers, and international partners calling for urgent, coordinated action during the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour.

The event, held in Chipangali District under the theme “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” brought together key stakeholders in the fight against child labour, alongside intensified school sensitization activities aimed at raising awareness among learners and communities.

As part of the commemorations, school sensitization exercises were conducted across selected schools in Chipangali District. 

The activities focused on educating learners about their rights to education, protection, and development, while encouraging them to speak out against exploitation. 

Teachers and community members were also engaged to strengthen their role in identifying, preventing, and reporting cases of child labour. 

The initiative highlighted schools as critical platforms for early intervention and community awareness.

Officiating the occasion, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ms. Angela Kawandami, stressed that child labour must be rejected by all.

“Child labour is unacceptable and must stop. Like a red card in sport, it signals behaviour we must not allow. It denies children their rights, education, health, and future,” Ms. Kawandami said.

She cited the 2023 Child Labour Survey, noting that over 610,000 children in Zambia are engaged in child labour, including more than 272,000 in hazardous work.

“These figures show that child labour remains a serious challenge, especially in rural areas and sectors such as agriculture, mining, domestic work, and informal trading,” said Ms. Kawandami.

International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office Director for Zambia and Malawi, Mr. Wellington Chibebe, warned that efforts to eliminate child labour by 2030 are off track.

“Today, we raise a red card against child labour and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every child enjoys their right to education, protection, and a better future,” Mr. Chibebe said.

He added that ending child labour requires faster action in education, social protection, decent work, law enforcement, and data systems.

Chief Chanje of Chipangali District urged fellow leaders to take responsibility.

“As traditional leaders, we must be at the forefront of protecting our children. We must speak out and work with government to end child labour in our communities,” he said.

Zambia Federation of Employers representative, Mr. Hillary Hazele, emphasized the role of employers.

“Employers have a duty to comply with labour laws and ensure that children are not engaged in any form of labour. We must promote decent work and support families so that children remain in school,” Mr. Hazele said.

Representing workers, Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) Secretary General, Mr. Nelson Mwale, called for stronger protection of children and enforcement of labour standards.

“Trade unions remain committed to safeguarding children’s rights. We will continue to advocate for strict enforcement of labour laws and ensure that no child is subjected to exploitation,” Mr. Mwale said.