Inspectors ban using labor of children younger than 15 held at Solonet colony

The administration of the boarding school for minors with behavioral difficulties situated in Solonet village of Soroca district was warned by labor inspectors not to involve children aged under 15 in agricultural works. The inspectors traveled to this institution at the request of ombudsman for chidlren's rights Tamara Plamadeala, Info-Prim Neo reports. The school has a farm that is 28 hectares in area. In a communique, the ombudsman says that the inspection carried out at the institution ended with the drawing up of a report, which says that the children younger than 15 can be put to work only at the technological education classes. The older students can be engaged in work only in accordance with the labor legislation. There are 25 minors at the boarding school in Solonet, which is intended for children who commit minor offenses and cannot be held accountable as they are too young. The minors stay there for four years. If they commit other offenses afterward, they are taken to penitentiary No. 2 in Lipcani. Ombudsman Tamara Plamadeala says the number of delinquent children in Moldova is on the rise. More than 3,000 minors are under police supervision. She recommended immediately reforming the school in Solonet so as to appropriately educate these children and avoid wasting public money.