The discussion on 'Code of Conduct in Employing Child Labourer' was organised by Shishuder Jonya Amra, an NGO, at LGED Bhaban in the city.

Child labour is a huge challenge before Bangladesh, said Country Manager of Save the Children Sweden-Denmark Olof Risberg.

He said it is crucial to frame and enforce an employer's code of conduct for child workers.

Terming the elimination of child labour a human and social obligation, General Secretary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Zafrul Hasan said, "Children are exploited and abused routinely in the country."

Expressing his solidarity with the need for a change to child labour code, Hasan said 93 percent of child labourers are engaged in informal sector which hardly follow any code of conduct in recruiting them.

Discrimination against the child labourers has increased many times compared to the past, said noted economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad who chaired the discussion.

"We have to update the code of conduct not only for urban child workers but also for the grassroots level child labourers," he said underscoring the need for child education, awareness and prevention of child marriage.

Though Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has singed a deal with the International Labour Organisation to eliminate child labour, we lag behind in this regard for various reasons," said President of Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik Federation Md Abul Bashar.

Poverty is the sole reason of child labour, he said stressing on tougher law and mass awareness to prevent it.

Representatives from Incidin Bangladesh, Ain O Salish Kendra, Nari Moitree, Society for Underprivileged Families, Shaishab Bangladesh, and Community Participation and Development and commissioners of different city wards were present on the occasion.