The President of the National Commission Against Child Labor (KNTI), Aniceto Leto Soro said the commission has approved the list of 22 hard jobs banned to be undertaken by the children in Timor-Leste.
He added the jobs include working in the fishing, agriculture and construction sectors, jobs involving heavy lifting of item above 20 kg for boys and 15 kg for girls, selling alcohol, cigarettes, DVD’s, and washing cars.
“We have deemed 22 hard jobs unfit to be undertaken by children under the age of 18 years old,” added KNTI President Soro, in Dili.
He said also that the commission present the list and the proposal of the child labor law to the council of ministers shortly for approval and so these can be implemented.
According to the provisions of the law, there will be administrative penalties and sanctions for individuals and groups employing children in any of these labout activities.
Meanwhile the Director of the Youth Communication Forum (FCJ) Madalena Pinto Baptista said the number of children washing cars has decreased already but to some interventions undertaken but that the number of children selling fruits and cigarettes in the streets is still high.
“During our interviews with the children, they told us that they work to help their families.”
She added that among the children, some have dropped out of school while some others work after school hours.
