Ghana is demanding a clearer definition of what constitutes child labour as new European Union law on the practice kicks in.

Under the new regime, Member States would be responsible for the enforcement of the regulation’s provisions.

Their national authorities are further empowered to withdraw products made using forced labour from the EU market, following an investigation.

Customs authorities would also identify and stop products made using forced labour at EU borders.

At a meeting at the Jubilee House, the German Labour and Social Affairs Minister Hubertus Heil says enforcement has started.

Ghana’s Employment and Labour Relations Minister Ignatius Baffour Awuah said the country’s cultural practices must be considered in matters relating to child labour.

“We have always insisted that the original hazardous activity framework which was used as the yardstick of measuring children’s involvement in cocoa production had to be reviewed through your instrumentality we have that.

“The cocoa industry is currently being handled by persons whose ages are above 45. So how do we sustain this industry going into the future if we do not train young people to be in it?

“And we need to do that with a combination of formal and informal education and most of these people learn informally from their parents outside school hours.”