Government of Trinidad and Tobagogov.tt

Media Release: Ministry of Labour hosted virtual child labour training for Child Rights Ambassadors

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Monday 12 July 2021

Thirty-two (32) Child Rights Ambassadors participated in an interactive virtual child labour training session hosted by the Ministry of Labour on Thursday July 08, 2021. This online training was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Labour and the Office of the Prime Minister Gender and Child Affairs and was geared towards empowering students across Trinidad and Tobago to fight against child labour in their schools and communities.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.) Ms. Kevar Williams, who is also Chair of the Ministry’s National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour, delivered welcome remarks at this training session. Ms. Williams shared the International Labour Organization’s latest global estimates on child labour worldwide and reiterated the value and importance of Child Rights Ambassadors’ roles in spotting and stopping child labour in Trinidad and Tobago.  

Ms. Paula Achaibar, Labour Inspector II, led an interactive presentation and shared information such as:

  • What is child labour?
  • Who is a child?
  • The rights of children
  • Child labour vs child work
  • Causes and effects of child labour
  • Worst forms of child labour
  • The penalties for child labour in T&T
  • The support services available for parents and children
  • To whom should reports be made

The Child Rights Ambassadors were very receptive and responsive to the information presented, expressing their satisfaction and illustrating their interest in learning more about child labour as they continue to fulfil their roles as Child Rights Ambassadors.

Mr. Bertrand Moses, Child Affairs Coordinator and Ms. Shannon Stanley, Child Development Specialist attached to the Office of the Prime Minister, Gender and Child Affairs were also present at the virtual training session. They both applauded this collaboration by expressing that the information provided was very rich and highlighted that the Child Rights Ambassadors learnt a lot from the session and that they looked forward to further sessions which will boost both Ministry’s efforts in protecting children from child labour in Trinidad and Tobago.

This activity is among the public education initiatives geared towards the Ministry of Labour’s continued sensitization on child labour which is also pinned against the commemoration of the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, 2021.

Students and other members of the public can look out for the Ministry of Labour’s ‘Free to be Me’ E-Activity booklet on child labour where more fun learning activities on child labour in T&T can be accessed.              

For further information, please contact:

Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Labour
International Waterfront Centre
Tower C, Level 6, 1A Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Tel: 625-8478 exts. 1203/1509/1208/1211/1522
Fax: 623-1404
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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