10 Mar 2019

Application of the penalty attached to any person who unlawfully employs a child is the measure put in place to compel farm owners to comply with the Children’s Act 2009, Section 24 Sub Section 1 to 6.

This was said by Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso in response to a parliamentary question.

Ms Tshireletso said “he/she shall be guilty of an offence and shall be sentenced to a fine not less than P10 000 but not more than P30 000 or to an imprisonment for a term of not less than 12 months, but not more than five years or both.”

Furthermore, she said farm owners were also compelled to comply with the Employment Act to ensure access to farms to conduct inspections for monitoring labour conditions by Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development officials.

Ms Tshireletso said P224 729 500 was allocated to the Department of Social Protection for 2019/2020 financial year for provision of social protection services.

She said out of the budget, P500 000 was allocated for the implementation of the Children’s Act.

“This accounts for 0.02 per cent of the total allocated department’s recurrent budget for 2019/20,” she said.

Jwaneng-Mabutsane legislator, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile had wanted to know measures in place to compel farm owners to comply with the Children’s Act and ensure access to farms for monitoring child labour conditions.

Furthermore, he wanted to know the percentage of the budget earmarked for the implementation of the Children’s Act during the 2019/2020 financial year. ENDS