•The initiative which was launched on Thursday aims to combat child labour in Africa's cocoa, gold, cotton, tea and coffee supply chains
•The ILO Country Office Director Caroline Mugalla said the strategic approach of the ACCEL Africa project is in targeting root causes of child labour in specific counties and supply chains
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The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched an initiative which seeks to protect children from working in tea and coffee farms.
Through the ACCEL Africa Project in Kenya, the initiative which was launched on Thursday aims to combat child labour in Africa's cocoa, gold, cotton, tea and coffee supply chains.
The ILO Country Office Director Caroline Mugalla said the strategic approach of the ACCEL Africa project is to target root causes of child labour in specific counties and supply chains.
In Kenya, the project will focus on coffee and tea value chains in Kirinyaga, Meru, Kericho and Kisii counties.
The ACCEL Africa Project enters its second phase, following a successful implementation in six countries in Africa.
The project will be implemented in close collaboration with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Labour, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) and the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU).
The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Government.
According to the Netherlands ambassador to Kenya Maarten Brouwer, putting children into labour is neglecting the potential future value of their labour that can be added through education.
"It reduces the chances of the child to self-develop. It is, therefore, economically unwise to do," Brouwer said.
"Economically, it is short-term gain at the expense of long-term value. Socially, it is excluding children from the chance to develop and to be of greater value to society once well educated," Brouwer added.
Speaking during the launch, Labour CS Florence Bore stressed the importance of mainstreaming elimination efforts across all value chains.
Bore emphasized the government's dedication to safeguarding children's futures.
The CEO of FKE Jacqueline Mugo highlighted the necessity of public awareness campaigns in combating child labour.
Mugo further emphasized the importance of social dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders.
“In confronting the harsh reality of persistent child labour, we must recognize the urgency of a holistic strategy," Cotu deputy SG Benson Okwaro noted.
"The multifaceted nature of this issue demands a comprehensive approach, targeting the very roots that sustain it," he added.
Okwaro said only then can the country safeguard the rights, well-being and future of children, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow.
Recently, with the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Kenya and the European Union, there are expected certain standards that will need to be kept for the trade between Kenya and the EU member states of which the Netherlands is a member.
This project seeks to support Kenya address the requirements that will be expected to be kept in so far as sustainability and fair/responsible trade practices are concerned.