Authorities try to fight against child labor in agriculture

State authorities, together with patronages and trade-unions are willing to counteract the children implication in the agricultural works, a phenomenon provoked mainly by the labor force migration from the R. of Moldova. From October 4 to 6, at the Labor Institute, the National Federation of Patronage in Agriculture and Food Industry (FNPAIA) organizes the second stage of the Training for trainers, as part of a project on combating child labor in agriculture. The course refers to the dangerous works in agricultural sector in which children are engaged, to the labor security and hygiene. In addition, as part of the program a handbook was edited - “The response of Employers to the phenomenon of child labor” and a brochure was presented – “A dignified future for our children through the elimination of their labor” The International Labor Organization (ILO) statistics show that most of the children are working in agricultural sector (70.4%). This fact is actually dangerous for the children, they being exposed to high temperatures and toxic substances also using sharp instruments for their work and carrying weights which exceed their abilities. According to the participants of the course, in R. of Moldova, the child labor phenomenon is encouraged by several causes, the most important of which is the poverty which determines the parents to appeal to the help of their children. On the other hand their labor is preferred by the employers, because it helps saving financial sources and completes the deficit of work force caused by the reduced salaries. Among the causes of the phenomenon important roles are played by the limited access to the modern technologies, the limited market for commercializing the produces, population exodus. FNPAIA have elaborated a range of informative materials aimed at helping employers know the legal provisions concerning child labor. Through the help of the trainers, the federation intends to organize a campaign that would encourage employers to follow the course of combating the implication of children in dangerous works in the sphere of agriculture of the R. of Moldova. The Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce, Sergiu Sainciuc, told Info-Prim Neo that, by ratifying the ILO Convention No.182 on the worst forms of child labor, R. of Moldova took upon itself the engagement to eradicate the implication in agricultural works of children younger than 15. Republic of Moldova’s legislation stipulates that a child can be employed only since the age of 16, or 15 years old with the acceptance of the parents: “Nobody affirms that the education through labor doesn’t have it’s right to exist, but we should make the difference between the situation when the child works at home together with his family and that when he works for a miserable salary” the Deputy Minister mentioned. The national correspondent of ILO, Ala Lipciu mentioned that ILO manifests its attitude towards this phenomenon through elaboration of standards incorporated in conventions and recommendations and through technical projects which are offered to the state–members at their solicitation. She sustains that R. Of Moldova is welcomed in its availability to overpass the stereotypes and to solve the problems through a constructive social dialogue. The project concerning combating child labor in agriculture was launched in February 2005 and is being supported by the ILO, the Bureau of activities for Patronages and is being financed by the Government of Norway.