Safeguarding children's futures: A SCREAM teacher training to tackle child labour in Sabah, Malaysia

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The International Labour Organization (ILO), through its innovative Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB) project, has launched a vital initiative to equip local leaders in Sabah, Malaysia, with the tools and knowledge to fight child labour. The SCREAM Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop, held on 15-16 July 2024 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, will empower educators and community leaders, to raise awareness and act against this persistent issue.

The ILO's SCREAM (Supporting Children's Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media) programme, or its local adaptation “SUARAKAN”, uses educational tools, arts and media to empower communities to recognize and act against child labour. The SCREAM ToT workshop equipped participants with a deep understanding of child labour issues, effective advocacy strategies and methodology. Through interactive workshops, training modules and the development of action plans, participants acquired the skills and knowledge to educate and mobilize communities against child labour, launch local projects and initiatives to raise awareness, as well as collaborate with other stakeholders on future efforts.

“I came here to learn how to differentiate between child labour and working children and I learned that. In addition, I also learned how to be a trainer to raise awareness on child labour,” says Wilddan Rezzy Septiand, a teacher from Sekolah Indonesia Kota Kinabalu, a participant in the workshop. 

The SCREAM ToT workshop targets approximately 70 participants who are educators from public schools and community learning centres (CLCs) in Sabah. By equipping these individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills, the programme aims to create a network of local changemakers who can drive sustainable progress in the fight against child labour in Sabah. A second workshop will be held in Lahad Datu on 7-8 September 2024. 

“The SCREAM ToT programme presents a unique opportunity to tackle child labour in Sabah,” says Ahmad Syafiq Audi, National Project Coordinator, ILO's GALAB project. “By equipping local leaders with the necessary tools and knowledge, we can empower them to create positive change and ensure a future free from child labour for Sabah's children.”

Child labour remains a persistent global issue, with an estimated 160 million children aged 5-17 years involved in child labour as of early 2020, according to the ILO. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Sabah, Malaysia. Despite the country's significant economic growth and poverty reduction, regional disparities continue to perpetuate conditions conducive to child labour, with Sabah struggling with economic development challenges. According to the 2018 Employment Survey on Oil Palm Plantations, an estimated 19,800 children (58.8 per cent) from Sabah alone were involved in child labour. These children, both Malaysian and non-Malaysian, often face hazardous work conditions, and many are undocumented or stateless. 

About GALAB Project

The SCREAM ToT workshop is carried out by the GALAB project, funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) and implemented in the framework of the ILO's 8.7 Accelerator Lab initiative. GALAB tackles child labour (SDG Target 8.7) in six countries by working with communities to address child labour root causes through policy changes, skills training, and social protection. Furthermore, GALAB collaborates with the Alliance 8.7 to facilitate the empowerment of communities to break the cycle of child labour and build a future where all children can thrive.