A “Red Card to Child Labour” campaign was held in Hanoi on June 12 to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, which coincides with the football World Cup in South Africa.

Representatives of domestic authorities and international non-governmental organisations joined thousands of children to sing the song “For a world without child labour” at the event.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang announced that 2010 is a year against child labour of the Vietnam Gymnastics Federation (VGF). The slogan of the campaign “Go for the Goal: End Child Labour” will appear at all events hosted by VGF during the year to raise people’s awareness on the matter.

According to the latest information released at the recent Global Summit on Child Labour, the world has around 215 million child labourers, of whom, 115 million are working in hazardous and dangerous environment, Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Bui Hong Linh said.

In Vietnam, child labour exists not only in disadvantaged areas but also in developed cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, he added.

The global campaign to terminate child labour is necessary in order to abolish worse child labour forms in Vietnam, the deputy minister said.

The event was also marked by a 15-minute football game between teams made of former child labourers and players from Vietnam’s national squad, including Tai Em, Minh Phuong, Thanh Luong and Duc Thang.

On the occasion, coach Mai Duc Chung was awarded the title Goodwill Ambassador against Child Labour.

The event was jointly held by the International Labour Organisation, the Vietnam Gymnastics Federation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, and Save the Children in Vietnam./.