Chile vows to eradicate child labor by 2010
The Chilean government plans to abolish the employment of laborers under 15 by 2010 and establish rules to protect workers aged between 15 and 18, Labor Minister Osvaldo Andrade said on Monday.

"We are aiming for the definitive eradication of child labor...with the intention of raising consciousness on the circumstances with respect to children who should not be working," Andrade said at a ceremony marking the 5th World Child Labor Day.

He said it was sad that Chile's conservative opposition is fighting a government which has worked out plans to punish inappropriate employment of laborers under 15, and to govern the working hours for older teens so that they can still study if they wish.

Guillermo Miranda, director for Latin American affairs of the International Labor Organization (ILO), praised the Chilean initiative, saying, "It is a goal that is within reach."

The ILO data showed that Chile has the lowest child labor rates on the Continent, with 196,000 working minors, of whom 107,000 working under unacceptable conditions.

Chile's National Minors Service has said 66 percent of working children are boys and 34 percent are girls, noting that 74.1 percent are aged between 15 and 18, of whom 55.7 percent do not attend school.

According to the same data, nearly 20 percent of Chile's working children are in some way involved in illegal activities, including sex work.