فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
During the National Parliament of Children session held on November 20, 2024, a young parliamentarian raised a question to Younes Skouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Enterprises, Employment, and Skills, regarding child labor in rural areas.
The question referred to the discussions held during the first session of the Child Parliament in 1999, asking about the changes in the situation, particularly in light of Goal 7 of the 8th Sustainable Development Goal 2030, which aims to eliminate child labor.
In his response, the Minister highlighted the significant progress Morocco has made in this area, thanks to the work of various national and international bodies. He noted that Morocco ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1993 and followed it up with numerous legislations to protect children from exploitation and forced labor.
He also pointed out that Morocco was internationally recognized as a leading country in the fight against child labor and would host the International Conference on Child Labor Reduction in 2026, as a testament to the country’s efforts.
The Minister further shared the findings of the latest study by the High Commission for Planning, conducted in July, which revealed that child labor in Morocco has decreased significantly in recent years. The number of working children dropped by nearly 50% in the past five to six years, indicating substantial progress. He mentioned that the majority of children working in rural areas, which constitute 90% of child labor in Morocco, are typically helping support their families. Most of these children are between the ages of 15 and 17.
In conclusion, the Minister acknowledged that while progress has been made, more work is still needed to address challenges in certain industrial sectors. He mentioned that labor inspections are ongoing, with around 300 violations related to child labor, which will be addressed in the future.
source : fesnews media
