By Asoka S. Seneviratne –

Prof. Asoka.S. Seneviratne

“A nation that turns a blind eye to the labour of its children mortgages not only their future, but its soul. Ending child labour is not charity — it is justice.”

The government’s decision to strictly enforce child labor laws starting July 1, 2025, marks a crucial turning point in Sri Lanka’s dedication to protecting children. Although laws banning child labor have existed for a long time under the Children’s Rights Ordinance, actual enforcement has been weak, allowing exploitative practices—especially in informal sectors—to continue at a disturbing rate.

Valuing Government Action

This initiative, led by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and announced by Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, should be recognized as a bold and praiseworthy move. It understands that child labor is not just a legal problem but a systemic failure of social support, and it holds the government accountable for taking strong action.

By prohibiting children under 16 from street vending and begging, and stopping 16–18-year-olds from doing dangerous work (including domestic chores), the Government is aligning with international human rights standards and restoring public trust in the rule of law.

Root Causes: Poverty, Trafficking, and Family Pressure

However, enforcement alone will not suffice unless the underlying drivers of child labour are tackled:

* Poverty: Many families rely on children’s income to survive. This economic dependency fuels intergenerational cycles of deprivation.

* Trafficking and exploitation: Vulnerable children, especially those from broken homes or rural areas, are easily manipulated or trafficked into forced labour.

* Family pressure: Some families, knowingly or unknowingly, push children into unsafe work to meet household needs or social obligations.

These issues demand not only law enforcement but also comprehensive social support systems, including education subsidies, income assistance, and community-based protection networks.

Barriers to Enforcement

While the policy announcement is firm in intent, several barriers could undermine its execution:

* Lack of coordination among police, child protection officers, and local authorities

* Inadequate training and resources for frontline enforcement staff

* Cultural acceptance in some communities of child labour as “normal” or “necessary”

* Fear of retaliation or loss of income among families who depend on children’s earnings

To overcome these issues, enforcement must be supported by inter-agency cooperation, public accountability, and incentives for reporting violations, including anonymous hotlines and community watch networks.

Monitoring and Evaluating Impact

To assess the success of the initiative, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework must be established. This should include:

* Baseline data on the prevalence and nature of child labour in Sri Lanka (disaggregated by region and type)

* Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) include the number of interventions, prosecutions, children rescued, and those reintegrated into education.

* Periodic progress reports by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs

* Community feedback mechanisms, including local NGOs and school networks

* Independent audits to ensure transparency and course correction

Without data-driven monitoring, the initiative risks becoming symbolic rather than transformative.

Summary

The government’s effort to reduce child labor is a timely and commendable step, but it must extend beyond just words. It demands significant social investment, targeted enforcement, and true accountability. Poverty, trafficking, and family pressure are complex issues, and no single law can resolve them without a comprehensive society-wide effort.

To truly end child labour in Sri Lanka, we must not only enforce the law but also build a future where no child is forced to work in the first place.

*The writer, among many, served as the Special Advisor to the President of Namibia from 2006 to 2012 and was a Senior Consultant with the UNDP for 20 years. He was a Senior Economist with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (1972-1993), asoka.seneviratne@gmail.com