Tomada targets business sectors that 'naturalize' child labor

Labour Minister Carlos Tomada has praised the approval of a new law punishing the promotion of child work and considered that certain “sectors have naturalized” such illegal practices.

In statements to a radio station, the Victory Front official stressed that both Houses of Congress passed the parliamentary move by unanimous consent following other lined-up bills such as the 2005 approval of the Childhood Rights Act.

“(This law) must be set in a context of permanent battle against these forms of work, especially in a country like Argentina that is heading to full employement rates, that has reduced non-registered job and that we must keep on working on,” Tomada said and responded to opposition parties that requested parents of exploited to be also punished.

“We understand that parents who allow it, do it from (their own) vulnerability and it would be a double punishment,” the minister explained and expected the enforcement of this law to help reduce child labor through the punishment of businessmen who fail to respect children protection standards.