Productive sector and Government share progress and strategies against child labor

Representatives of the worker sector, employer, Government, civil society and international organizations met this Friday, June 14, 2024, to exchange the progress and challenges of the eradication of child labor in Panama and the region during the forum called “The role of public-private social actors in the eradication of child labor.

Representing the Minister of Labor and Labor Development, Doris Zapata Acevedo, the Secretary General, Winston Sánchez, referred to the work carried out since the first day of this administration with the firm commitment to maintain the efforts to turn Panama into a country free of child labor.

“The fight against child labor requires a multisectoral and coordinated approach. During this time we have worked unstoppably to implement public policies that protect our boys and girls. Our efforts have focused on strengthening laws, improving surveillance and providing support to families, ensuring that every boy and girl has access to education and a safe and healthy environment,” he indicated.

The director in charge of the Directorate against Child Labor and Protection of Adolescent Workers (Diretipat), Denis Amor, emphasized the importance of continuing to apply public policies such as prevention days, teaching and raising awareness about the risks of child labor. that minors could suffer.

The worker and employer sector shared the social commitment in the fight against this scourge, through strategies to promote the rights of children and adolescents, respecting their right to study, recreate and grow healthy, maintaining over time the efforts of teaching and prevention against this social scourge.

The forum took place over two days, the first with a panel that was moderated by the National Executive Director of Casa Esperanza, Angélica La Vitola, who introduced the speakers: María Xirinachs from the International Labor Organization (ILO); Belckis González of CoNEP; and Carlos González from CONATO; while the second day featured another panel of speakers led by the National Director of Inspection of Mitradel, Carlos Landero, with the participation of the speakers: Eduardo Leblank, Ombudsman; Dayra Dawson of the Public Prosecutor's Office; Graciela Mauad from SENNIAF and Marisol Lineros from the International Organization for Migration.