Vietnam will quickly reach the target of eliminating child labour in its worst forms, with the implementation of the National Programme for Child Protection for the 2011-2015 period and relevant projects.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, made the statement at the meeting to mark the World Day Against Child Labour (June 12) in Hanoi on June 10.

“Elimination of child labour cannot be solved in one day. It requires not only a sole policy but a comprehensive strategy, with involvement of the whole community at national and international levels,” Ngan said.

On the occasion, Minister Ngan launched a campaign to collect 5,000 signatures to call on bringing 5,000 children out of hazardous work conditions, while the organising board awarded prizes for pupils in a drawing competition on child labour.

The World Day Against Child Labour in Vietnam, themed “Warning! Children in Hazardous Work, End Child Labour” aimed to link national and local activities with those from around the world to build momentum and strengthen the worldwide movement to tackle child labour and advocate for immediate action.

Jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the event looked to raise public and political awareness for campaigns to end child labour in Vietnam.

The event also saw the presence of Rie Vejs Kjeldgaard, Director of ILO Country Office for Vietnam and Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Fernando Curcio Ruigumez.

In Vietnam, after over 10 years of implementation of policies and programmes, more than 42,000 children had been provided with support to return home and given access to healthcare services, vocational training and employment, to help families stabilise their lives and raise incomes.

ILO estimated that there are 115 million children around the world who were directly involved in hazardous work, including about 25,000 Vietnamese children./.