The Fijian Government through the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations in collaboration with other inter-agencies such as the Ministry of Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Fiji Police Force and other key stakeholders have been heavily involved in the tackling of child labour cases in Fiji.
The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports, Honourable Parveen Kumar Bala highlighted that a lot of work has been done in this area to help in eradicating child labour in our society.
Employment Minister urged commentators speaking on child labour to see the work done by government and also verify issues with the Ministry for factual and quality reporting.
Minister Bala emphasised that the particulars on child labour are specifically covered under Part 10 of the ERA 2007 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour while Part 8 of the Employment Relations [Administration] Regulations 2008 states the conditions of work.
The Fijian Government has ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Fundamental Conventions 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour in 2002; Convention 138 on Minimum Age in 2003 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1993.
Also, it has ratified the ILO Convention 81 on Labour Inspection in 2008 resulting in the development of a robust labour inspection system through the implementation of the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. This ensures proper standards are followed while conducting labour inspections which encompasses a system of children withdrawn from child labour activities and returned to school.
Through its progressive labour reforms, Fiji has domesticated the fundamental principles and rights at work shielded under the ratified Conventions into its labour laws, particularly under the Employment Relations Act 2007 (ERA 2007).
The Inter-Agency Ministries and Departments have conducted meetings and training in villages and communities to ensure greater protection and awareness towards all issues related to children is taken at the grassroots level.
The Ministry’s Compliance Division conducted awareness and training sessions nationwide with the assistance of 68 Labour and Occupational Health and Safety Inspectorates.
The Minister further added that simple work done after school like gardening and helping their parents at home are not considered as child labour as this is part of a child’s development. However, Employment Minister further warned that all children should be in school during school hours. For any work carried out during normal school hours is considered a child labour activity as it affects the child’s education and learning.
The Ministry from 1st January 2010 till 31st December 2020, has conducted a total of 34,173 Labour Inspections and on spot-check on child labour and terms and conditions of work. This has resulted in the withdrawal of 247 children and referred them to the mainstream education system including Technical and Vocational training.
Section 256 of the ERA 2007 set out the penalty for offences committed against children. Fiji has also enacted the Hazardous Occupational List prohibited for children under 18 years on 13 May, 2013. This list sets out what all children below 18 years cannot do as part of child protection.
The Fijian Government has been chosen as a Pathfinder country to end forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and Child Labour under Sustainable Development goal 8.7. The Fijian Government will be working closely with the International Labour Organisations and other stakeholders in ensuring that Fiji becomes a Pathfinder country in implementing the programs on ending Child Labour, forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking.