In a statement, Somali labour minister,  Abdiwahab Ugas Khalif said the government had been struggling to eliminate child labor from the country.

"We need to act now and develop a National Child Labour Policy that will pave the way for the elimination of child labor,” said the min

The minister called for joint action saying the culture of child labour in the country crossed the red line.

Many families are forced to send their children to work due to economic hardship and lack of decent employment opportunities for family-heads," he noted. "Even more concerning, children who are recruited by militias or groups are forced into dangerous life-threatening roles such as soldier, cooks and cleaners."

Alexio Musindo, International Labour Organization (ILO) Director for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan as well as special representative for AU and ECA expressed ILO commitment to support Somalia.

"ILO is currently supporting the Ministry to conduct a child labour assessment in Somalia in order to better understand the key drivers of this harmful practice which will then inform the development of a National Action Plan against Child Labour,” said Alexio.

Meanwhile, Jesper Moller, Acting UNICEF Representative in Somalia said the labour could devastating and long-term impacts on their development, both mentally and physically as well as the country at large. 

 "If children have to work at a young age, they are missing out on an education, deprived of basic health care and can be exposed to dangerous work practices and environments, especially those recruited into armed forces and groups,” Jesper said.