Child labour and the wellbeing of children: the law and practice in Uganda
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Date
2013-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Law
Abstract
The study "Child Labour and the Wellbeing of Children" has been carried out in Uganda with
pat1icular observation of the law against child labour. It was carried out with specific aims of
examining the relevance of laws relating to children and their welfare; finding out govemment
development effm1s in eliminating child labour and in improving their welfare and offering
proposals for reform to child labour laws and policies which promote the welfare of children in
Uganda. Literature was reviewed to comprehend the study in order to enrich the study findings.
The study relied on a qualitative research design with use of an interview guide administered on
30 respondents and review of secondary data.
The law in Uganda was relevantly found to apply in preventing children from; participating in
hazardous, being kept out of school, compulsory and forced labour, setting standard age at which
a child can engage in child labour, defining a child's right work hours, and putting children under
custody of parents or guardians who can best serve in the interest of a child. With government
development efforts including; working in partnership with child development and protection
agencies, developing policies from internationally recognized instmments, reviewing laws that
are found inapplicable, and promoting child basic education and providing and suppmting the
maintenance of children in school.
The study concludes that, govemment has not effectively protected against child labour although
there are existing laws to enhance this. This necessitates genuine cmmnitment to weaken the
factors that lead to child labour and efforts need to be more practical than theoretical.
The study recommends; imposing and enforcing legal penalties on child employers;
strengthening family com1s; promoting employment conditions of adults; promoting growth of
credit and saving schemes; reinstating a competent enforcement body; issuing scholarship funds;
developing apprenticeship programmes to promote talents; promoting community welfare;
building partnerships with small local businesses; creating continuity awareness and;
establishment of more schools as well as supporting creches and per-schools.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Award of a Bachelor of Laws of Kampala International University
Keywords
Child, Labour