Following an assessment requests by the SADC Employment and Labour Sector (ELS), Committee of Ministers and Social Partners at their Annual Meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, April, 1996 the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conducted a Study on the magnitude of Child Labour in the Region. The findings of the Study revealed that data on Child Labour was scarce and that most of the Member States had not adopted comprehensive national strategies to combat Child Labour.
In order to enhance the regional approach of combating Child Labour, SADC Council of Ministers at its meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, August 1999 directed the ELS to develop the Code of Conduct on Child Labour. The Code together with the International Labour Organisation proposals on the national actions against Child Labour will provide guidelines for the Member States on the issue of combating Child Labour.
