Agriculture employers say ‘no’ to exploitation of child labor

The agriculture employers renewed their commitment to prevent and combat the exploitation of child labor in the agricultural sector, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The National Federation of Employers in Agriculture and the Food Industry has launched a summer program of action aimed at combating child labor and will continue to monitor the implementation of the code of conduct for employers on the elimination of the worst forms of child labor, which was adopted by the member associations of the Federation in December 2007,” the Federation’s chairman Alexandru Slusari said in a meeting held before the World Day Against Child Labor. According to Hancesti regional coordinator for combating child labor in agriculture Serafima Cantar, the only childhood games for many children in Moldova are the housework, field work or daily paid work for other persons. “Poverty is the main cause for child labor, but there are also other associated causes like political and economic instability, discrimination, migration, traditional and cultural practices – the parents insist that the children learn to deal with the difficulties, the lack of a job,” said Serafima Cantar. Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov said the exploitation of children through labor leads to poverty as they work, instead of learning. “If we realize we suffer losses and will not force the children to do hard work, technologies will be implemented that will facilitate the adults’ work,” said Vasile Bumacov. Ion Spanu, executive director of the National Federation of Employers in Agriculture and the Food Industry from Floresti, said the exploitation of child labor can result in the death or injuring of the children. The Federation’s summer program includes a series of roundtable meetings involving agriculture employers. The Federation and the civil society partners will organize camps for children and teens. The World Day Against Child Labor is marked on June 12.