The Labour Ministry is urging employers take a pledge to eliminate child labour from their production and supply chains. This initiative comes as European and American export markets closely monitor the Government's active engagement towards eradicating child labour nationally.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Labour Ministry Secretary, S.M. Piyatissa stated the concern of the European and American authorities over actions taken to eradicate child labour necessitates consistent reporting on progress. He warned the failure to do so could jeopardise future exports to these critical markets.

"We were bound to eradicate child labour by 2025, according to the UN Sustainable Development Goal," he said. "European countries ask for constant reports on the progress with that, and their official representatives in our country, including economic affairs divisions, gather data," he added. 

He further added the Ministry is launching awareness programmes for employers to highlight the situation. Through these programmes, the Ministry will ask employers to take a pledge to attempt to make their supply chains child labour free zones.