Child Labour and Social Protection

Since its establishment in 2000, Platform for Labour Action (PLA) has been at the forefront of efforts to eliminate child exploitation in Uganda. What began as a focus on child domestic work has evolved into a comprehensive program addressing multiple forms of child labour, including domestic servitude, commercial agriculture, urban informal work, trafficking, and children affected by conflict.

This program contributes directly to PLA's strategic objective of strengthening social protection mechanisms through education, skills development, and livelihood support, while addressing the systemic drivers of vulnerability such as poverty, limited access to education, and weak protection systems.

Our approach is rooted in PLA's Theory of Change, which focuses on prevention, protection, reintegration, and empowerment to achieve long-term, sustainable change in the lives of vulnerable children and their families.

Our Approach

PLA implements an integrated model that addresses child labour across the full cycle:

• Prevention — stopping children from entering exploitative labour through awareness and community engagement
• Protection — identifying, withdrawing, and supporting children in harmful work
• Reintegration — supporting access to education or vocational pathways
• Empowerment — strengthening household livelihoods to reduce dependence on child labour

What We Do

1. Rescue, Rehabilitation and Reintegration

We identify and withdraw children from exploitative labour and support their reintegration into formal education (primary and secondary school) and psychosocial support systems.

2. Education and Skills Development

For older children and youth, we provide vocational training, apprenticeships and internships, and industrial and community-based skilling opportunities.

3. Household Livelihood Support

Recognising that poverty drives child labour, we support families through entrepreneurship training, income-generating activities, and strengthening Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).

4. Prevention Through Awareness and Community Action

We work at community level to conduct public awareness campaigns, challenge harmful norms and practices, and promote mindset change on child labour.

5. Legal Aid and Child Protection Services

We provide legal aid to children and affected households facing exploitation, abuse, or violations of their rights.

6. Advocacy

PLA strengthens systems that protect children by advocating for legal and policy reforms, engaging government and stakeholders, and influencing national and local frameworks on child labour.

7. Business and Human Rights Engagement

We promote responsible business practices, compliance with labour standards, and protection of children within supply chains.

Our Impact

Since inception, 12,000+ children have been withdrawn and supported with primary and secondary education as well as vocational training, 3,500 families supported, and 8 districts reached. Child labour remains a significant barrier to education, dignity, and future opportunities for many children in Uganda. PLA's integrated approach addresses the root causes — poverty, unemployment, and weak enforcement — to deliver long-term, sustainable reduction in child exploitation.