PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has won a pledge from International Development Minister that the government is backing worldwide moves to end child labour.

The Labour backbencher, who has long campaigned on the issue, tackled the minister on the matter through a Commons question.

The Minister said: "We are supporting the International Labour Organisation's work aimed at producing a new International Convention on the worst forms of child labour which we hope will be agreed by all members of the ILO at the its conference in June 1999.

"This will cover forms of labour which enslave, corrupt, maim and kill children and young people under the age of 18.

"We are also working with developing countries' governments and international organisations to help tackle the problem in practical ways because in many countries, despite laws against child labour, children from very poor families, often female-headed, work as a result of extreme poverty.

"Programmes are needed to enable their parents to work for a better income and to provide schooling for children."

A pleased Mr Prentice said:"All over the world, childhood is a misery for millions.

"We must speak up for those without a voice of their own."

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