TAWAU: An 18-month programme will be held to promote socio-economic inclusion and protect the rights of children in Tawau oil palm plantation.
The launching was made by the European Union (EU), International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the United Nations Children's Fund in conjunction with World Day Against Child Labour.
The initiative seeks to provide these children with better access to education and training opportunities, helping to address the root causes of child labour in the region.
Spanning until June 2025, the project will reach children, young individuals as well as their families, both documented and undocumented, living and working in and around oil palm plantations in Tawau, Sabah.
It will improve data collection of children working in and around oil palm plantations, increase awareness of child rights issues, produce replicable education and training model, and formulate a joint roadmap between the government of Malaysia and the United Nations toward the eradication of child labour and related child rights issues in Sabah among others.
According to the Malaysian government's 2018 Employment Survey in Plantation, it is estimated that 33,600 children aged between 5 and 17 work in the oil palm industry, with Sabah accounting for 58.8 per cent or about 19,800 children.
"Eradicating child labour is a top priority for the EU, and working proactively to prevent it is more urgent than ever. We know that strong, local partnerships are essential to understanding, addressing, and preventing child labour.
"This is why we have joined forces with ILO, Unicef, and local actors to implement this programme. The EU and its member states are committed to ensure sustainable initiatives where no one is left behind," said EU Delegation Cooperation team leader, Dr Audrey-Anne Rochelemagne, in a statement.
Unicef representative in Malaysia Robert Gass said that every child, no matter their legal status, has a right to a childhood and the full range of rights guaranteed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
He said that change is possible for children working in and around plantations if all sectors – public and private – work together to prevent and address the root causes leading to child labour, and to promote remedy when they occur.
Meanwhile, ILO Asia and the Pacific deputy regional director, Panudda Boonpala, said they appreciate the collaboration with the Malaysian government and key stakeholders including employers in making collective efforts to address the challenge of child labour.
"We, therefore, welcome this new initiative and the continuation of our joint efforts to prevent and eliminate it. Child labor is a severe human rights abuse and a form of labour exploitation, both globally and nationally.
"It not only prevents children from accessing the education they need for a better future, but also hinders older children from acquiring the skills that could enhance their employability.