The local NGO Healthcare

Center for Children (HCC) has announced it will provide 299 children

with scholarships to encourage them to stay in school instead of

engaging in hazardous forms of agricultural child labour, according to

Sok Sopha, HCC trafficking prevention program officer.

The children,

who are six to 14 years old, will receive school materials such as

uniforms, bags, books, stationery and bicycles as part of the

scholarship. According to the NGO, the incidence of

agricultural-related illness and injury is much higher than in other

sectors,  with 12 percent more children likely to be injured working in

agriculture than manufacturing.