"We have since 2008 withdrawn 32,663 child laborers from their workplaces and sent them to schools. We are planning to free 11,000 and 14,000 others respectively this year and in 2014," Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said here on Thursday.
Accompanied by the head of the ministry`s office for East Java, Hari Sugiri, Muhaimin on the occasion handed over school assistance packages for 2,280 children who had been freed from their workplace.
The minister said that going to schools was the right of children. Therefore, millions of children on the street, with poor families and leaving schools (for having no money) must be assisted and be sent to schools.
"For this purpose, we cooperate with the local governments, the private sector and other relevant parties to withdraw working children and send them to schools in an effort to protect them from discrimination and exploitation," the minister said.
Minister Muhaimin expressed his intention to make the withdrawal of children from workplaces a national movement program because children were assets and investment for the future.
Hari Sugiri said meanwhile that the PPA - PKH gave directives to children for about one month before they really returned to schools.
"Therefore, the minister handed over school assistance packages which consisted of writing utensils, books and other needs to prepare child laborers in East Java to return to schools in the 2013 - 2014 academic year," he said.
A total of 2,280 child laborers which are taking part in the PPA-PKH 2013 programs which came from 17 district/municipalities in East Java. They are the district/municipalities of Sampang, Bangkalan, Pamekasan, Sumenep, Malang, Pasuruan, Probolinggo, Lumajang, Jember, Bondowoso, Situbondo, Ngawi, Bojonegoro, Ponorogo, Lamongan, Jombang and Tuban.
"The constraint faced in the implementation of this program comes from parents who ask their children to work in an effort to help earn a living the family. Therefore, we are carrying out evaluations on how to make the program run smoothly," he said.
In the meantime, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono has said that in connection with the government's plan to increase fuel oil prices which will likely affect poor families, the government will increase its education assistance for the poor.
The scholarships will be increased to 15.4 million students. The number of families getting assistance through the Family Empowerment Program (PKH) will also increase from 2.4 million target houses to 3.2 million target houses. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
