Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resources, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that all resources are being utilized for meeting the target of child labour elimination from all brick kilns throughout the province within next six months. Final summary has been sent to Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for approval of the project, under which, a coordinated strategy will be given a final shape with the collaboration of Punjab Information Technology Board, Literacy department, Social Welfare, Punjab Education Foundation, Bureau of Statistics and other concerned institutions and will be enforced in all the districts.
He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting for the elimination of child labour form brick kilns of the province. Secretary Labour Ishrat Ali, DG Labour Welfare Muhammad Saleem Hussain, Project Director for child labour elimination Dr. Javed Gull, Project Manager Rehan and Malik Nazir Awan were also present on the occasion. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that Labour Department has given a final shape to the roadmap for the elimination of child labour from brick-kilns of the province. He said that data of 7000 labourers and their families living at brick kilns will be saved with the help of modern software and specific mechanism. Chief Secretary Punjab, Commissioners, DIG, DPOs and owners of brick kilns will be kept informed about the programme presided over by Chief Minister through video link, he added. The Minister said that letters have been written to District Labour Officers for highlighting the objectives of this programme of child labour elimination through awareness seminars in their respective districts. Officers of Bureau of Statistics and labour department are conducting a survey of brick kilns for dividing them in different categories, he added. He said that modern technology of android telephone and tablets will also be benefitted in this regard. He said that for the success of the project, a strategy and questioner is being sent to the kilin owners through DCOs of the province. He said that besides collection of data of employees of the kilns, their families and children, record of correct mapping of the kilns and number of nearest educational institutions will also be compiled. He said that with the cooperation of Punjab Information Technology Board, information of all new brick kilns, number of employees, social security registration and all other information will be updated through data system of PITB. He said that kiln owners will also be taken into confidence in this regard. He directed that a meeting should be held after every 15 days in this regard and briefing be given regarding the progress. Final amendments are being made in labour laws for complete eradication of child labour, he added.
