Amman, June 11 (Petra) — International Labor Organization (ILO) and
Save the Children Jordan on Thursday signed a partnership agreement
to address child labor in the agricultural sector, coinciding with
World Day Against Child Labour.

The agreement, implemented under the second phase of the
Netherlands-funded PROSPECTS program, aims to strengthen protection
mechanisms and services for the most vulnerable groups, particularly
in governorates with high agricultural activity.

The move seeks to reduce child labor under an integrated approach
aligned with the program’s objective of improving refugees’ and host
communities’ access to protection services.

Talking at the signing ceremony, Maha Kattaa, Regional Chief
Technical Advisor for PROSPECTS and Durable Solutions at ILO Regional
Office for Arab States, said child labor remains a major challenge,
especially in agriculture, requiring action to address root causes
linked to poverty and limited income opportunities.

She said the ILO works to connect social protection with education
and families’ economic empowerment to strengthen resilience, adding
that the agreement reflects a “shared commitment” to supporting
national efforts to combat child labor through stronger referral and
case-management mechanisms, expanded access to education, and
economic empowerment for caregivers.

In turn, Save the Children Jordan CEO Dana Erekat said ending child
labor is a key priority for the organization, citing integrated
programmes that include cash assistance, mental health services, case
management, and referrals to specialized services to reduce poverty
and school dropout rates.

Under the agreement, referral mechanisms will be strengthened,
children’s access to education improved, and school dropout reduced.
Terms also provide psychosocial support services, capacity building
for caregivers, and awareness campaigns on the risks of child labour
in agriculture.

The agreement also covers entrepreneurship and financial literacy
programs for caregivers, including the ILO’s Start and Improve Your
Business program, to support the establishment and improvement of
businesses and provide grants to eligible beneficiaries to help
empower them economically.

//Petra// AO