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Johannesburg - Government should introduce strict regulatory measures in the taxi industry and the agricultural sector to stop child labour, Cosatu said on Friday.
"Most of these children are employed in the taxi industry and the agricultural sector. We also urge government to put in place more regulatory measures in these sectors," Cosatu said in a statement.
On Thursday, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said more than 800 000 children were still involved in child labour.
She was speaking at the commemoration of the National Day Against Child Labour in Badplaas, Mpumalanga.
Cosatu said the department should increase the size of its inspectorate for child labour to be uncovered rapidly.
"The justice system should prosecute any employer who is breaking the laws forbidding child labour and must be severely punished," said Cosatu.
"We appeal to the taxi industry and employers in the agricultural sector to stop employing young children."
In a Statistics SA survey conducted in 2010, it was found that girls were more likely than boys to be affected by child labour. In 2006, gender made little difference.
In both 2010 and 2006, children aged between 10 and 15 were the most likely to be involved in child labour, Oliphant said.
The third global conference on child labour will be held in Brazil in October. At the event the International Labour Office's international programme on the elimination of child labour will reveal findings of its study and discuss progress made so far.
- Fin24
