More than 304,000 children still work, even in hazardous tasks

SANTO DOMINGO.- After 10 years since the World Against Child Labor Day was established, more than 304,000 Dominican children still perform tasks which deprive them of education, health, leisure and basic freedoms.

International Labor Organization (ILO) consultant Oscar Armangos said 12 percent of the population aged 5 to 17 is subjected to work, with 8% of that does hazardous labor.

He said however that Dominican Republic has fallen number of children and young workers by 6% the in recent years and aims to eradicate the worst forms of child labor by 2015, while eliminating it altogether by 2020. "We need to strengthen the socio-political commitment against this problem in the country, intensifying efforts to reduce poverty, increase social protection and education coverage as strategies that contribute to eradicate child labor."

Armangos said current figures from the ILO, United Nations Children’s Fund, Labor Ministry, Coalition for Children, Education Ministry and the Observatory for Children’s Rights, among others show that despite a significant decrease in recent years Dominican Republic has around 304,000 children and adolescents who work.