This week state minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Donovan Williams took on an issue that seems to get 15 minutes of attention on the news cycle every so often — child labour.

As a nation, we spout being serious about clamping down on, or even eradicating child labour, but like so many other social ills, the follow-through is best described as lukewarm.

Minister Williams was addressing the World Day Against Child Labour Jingle Competition Awards Ceremony in downtown Kingston at Jamaica Conference Centre.

Said he: “If you suspect a child is being exploited or engaged in harmful work, please report it. Swift action depends on timely information, and every report matters.”

The sad reality is that the presence of children selling fruits, sweet and drinks in the busy downtown Kingston business district or wiping windscreens for cash at traffic lights is as ubiquitous as the unlicensed handcart man. The risks to them in these circumstances are innumerable.

Minister Williams underscored that reporting is critical in the fight against child labour.

One acknowledges his solid admonition, but how many Jamaicans even know where to make these reports? Or, going further, do they know what information would constitute a complete report on which an officer of the State can act?

Moreover, a vox pop anywhere might bring shame to us if we asked Jamaicans on the provisions of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Employment (Prohibition of Child Labour) Act.

Truth is, child labour is a significant concern globally. UNICEF reported in 2024 that some 138 million children are subjected to child labour in varied forms.

Without offering any justification for the state of affairs, many of us know of the reasons this persists.

Often child labour occurs when families face financial challenges or uncertainty, whether due to poverty or social standing.

Against this background, to eliminate it we must deal with these reasons it exists and not look at the visible symptoms.

The honourable minister did take the mission one step further with a new campaign.

He pointed to the ‘Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults’ theme as a clear call for stronger action to eliminate the practice.

“I think this is a fitting depiction of our seriousness and our intention to eradicate child labour, not only in Jamaica, but globally,” the state minister said.

We have come a far way as a nation, from a time when children’s education was interrupted and schools were scanty on Fridays as they were kept at home to assist with the cottage industry of poultry rearing or sent to the field to help with the sowing and harvesting. Or, worse, the youngest sibling was pulled from school to take care of the offspring of the eldest. So the worst is behind us. But we are still not at the end of the mission — red card notwithstanding.

Truly safeguarding Jamaica’s children from exploitation, particularly child labour, requires the active involvement of citizens, families, employers, and communities.

“Let us leave here today with a renewed commitment to raise awareness, to speak up when children are at risk, and to work together to ensure that every Jamaican child is free to learn, grow and pursue their dreams without fear, without exploitation and without limitations,” said Minister Williams to his audience.

If only it were as easy as such a pronouncement.

Let’s us all look for the follow-through.