Child Labour is a challenging issue and needs to be addressed collaboratively by Government, non-government organizations (NGO’s), child advocates, schools, communities and individuals.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, as the secretariat for National Coordinating Committee on Children (NCCC), emphasizes that NCCC is committed to working with counterpart agencies and members of NCCC in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
In 2008-2009, the NCCC established a new Subcommittee on Child Labour to look into this area for children in Fiji. NCCC is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) into Fiji’s laws and procedures and its role extends to providing advice, regulating and monitoring the protection and welfare of children in Fiji.
Fiji ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on August 14, 1993 and the significance of Fiji being a signatory to the Convention is that the State recognizes and reaffirms its commitment towards human rights and dignities of children in Fiji.
The CRC also advocates on protection and promotion of the rights of special needs children, of minority children and those of refugee children. The four major principles of CRC includes non-discrimination, best interest of the child, right to life, survival and development, respect for the views of the child.
The ministry and UNICEF Pacific continue to work together to promote CRC in the communities. The Baseline Research Report and subsequent work of the Social Welfare Officers and the Community Programme Officers in all the divisions and districts with respect to the Rights of the Child and Prevention of Child Abuse , Neglect and Abandonment & Stop Child Labour.
The ministry is calling on parents to ensure that their children are in school and the government ministries and departments would raise awareness on the importance of education and ill effects of child labour.
Through the government’s Care and Protection (C&P) program, the Social Welfare Department provides assistance in form of monthly allowances to parents, guardians, single mothers who find it difficult to financially meet the needs of their children or those other than their own.
In line with Pillar 9 of the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress “Making Fiji a knowledge Based Society”, the Government through the Expanded Food Voucher Program also provides $30 food vouchers to children in rural areas coming from poorer families with little income support along with the provisions for free bus fare and free text books. These child-friendly programs are administered by the Ministry of Education.
The Social Welfare Ministry will continue to strengthen its network with government ministries and non-government organizations, faith based organizations and communities in ensuring care and protection for children in Fiji.
Permanent Secretary for Social Welfare, Women Mr Govind Sami at the HelpAge Network AsiaPacific Regional Conferen on Rapid Ageing held in Myanmar, Yangon