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On Tuesday, 13th October, 2020, Department of Labor and Social Affairs (DoLSA) with cooperation of Help INGO and Organization for Sustainable Aid in Afghanistan (OSAA) organized the 13th TEVT and Employment Round-Table in Women Empowerment and Social Association (WESA) Conference Room in Herat province. This roundtable meeting was held with the title of “COVID 19 impact on child labor and forced labor”.
In this roundtable meeting, representatives from Govt. Dept. including Department of Labor and Social Affairs (DoLSA), Dept. of Commerce and Industry, Afghan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries (AWCCI) as well as representatives from I/NGO and private sector i.e. Islamic Relief World Organization, Help INGO, RSDO, DACAAR, WISE, and Women’s Empowerment and Social Association (WESA) were attended the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Sohrab Faizy who was directing the meeting, welcomed the participants to the 13th TVET roundtable and the session started by reciting Holy Quran. Then Mr. Abdul Sattar Zarifi the head of Social Affairs Unit of DoLSA had reviewed on 12th roundtable also talked about the purpose of the 13th roundtable and said: “It is very important to hold TVET and Employment Round-Tables with the presence of representatives from Govt. Dept. I/NGOs and private sector with the title of COVID 19 impact on child labor and forced labor”. Mr. Zarifi
mentioned that the result of the last TVET Roundtables was shared with the ministry of labor and social affairs and had a good and positive reflection, the ministry of the labor and social affairs welcomed form TVET roundtables and announced its support. Mr. Zarifi hoped that at the end of meeting we can find practical solutions to prevent the child labor and forced labor.
In the following, Mrs. Parwin Hossainy new Director of OSAA, had a presentation based on report of the international labor organization on impact of COVID 19 on child labor and forced labor.

Based on this research the most important Reason of the child labor and forced labor is poverty, discrimination and Social marginalization.
In the following Mr. Sebghatullah Habibi presented its presentation based on the Consortium and its activities which has been done in Herat and vulnerabilities Children in Herat which the most important point of them are as fallows.
– In the consortium they work on strategies and theory of change which is for the 5 years based on this theory we can work for the better future of this children.

He mentioned that on protecting of the children there are 28 standards in the world which 20them are accepted in Afghanistan. This standards are into 4 categories which are as follows:
1-Standard to protect child protection needs
2-Standard to protect child protection response
3-Standard to protect child protection Strategies
4-Standard to protect child protection mainstreaming
And the CPAN and ministry of labor and social affairs works on the Standards and strategies to create better Situation to the child labor.

Subsequently the participants (Govt. Dept., I/NGOs and private sector) discussed their opinions on the selected topic of the roundtable.
Mr. Bahra from War Child told that for protecting and supporting the vulnerable children and child labor we should create job opportunities for their families to bring positive changes to their life situation.
During the discussion Mr. Zeaie from help INGO mentioned that COVID 19 negative impact Suspended the TVET activates and caused halted VTCs for long time suspension of TVET classes.
As result and at the end of the roundtable Ms. Khatera Omid from AWCCI promised to help the children who knows any vocation for supporting them they will sell their products.
Mrs. Maria form WESA also promised to help these childs as well with provision of services for free for these children family particularly women then they can be useful for their family and its economy.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Zarifi concluded the topics of the meeting and he proposed to make a committee for bringing positive changes to the life of the vulnerable children”.
The ceremony was ended with payer and appreciation of Help INGO and OSAA for supporting DoLSA in organizing this roundtable meeting.
The End