Child sex for food

ILO CLAIMS CHILDREN USED TO PUSH DRUGS

THE International Labour Organization (ILO) has made shocking revelations about children in Fiji engaging in sex and drug trafficking to help parents put food on the table.

ILO project officer Victoria Yee said children were getting at least $10 a day from the work they do to help their parents buy food.

She revealed this during an awareness session about child labour at Qauia settlement in Lami yesterday.

An ILO report in 2016 also revealed that children were also involved in other worse forms of child labour such as deep-sea diving and some worked two or more jobs to earn an income.

Mrs Yee said such forms of child labour existed in poverty stricken areas in Fiji.

SOME children in Fiji are involved in the worst forms of child labour such as commercial sexual exploitation and dealing in illicit drugs to provide for their families.

This, according to International Labour Organization project officer Victoria Yee during an awareness session on child labour at Qauia settlement in Lami yesterday.

Mrs Yee said children were being used to transport and manufacture drugs. Such forms of child labour, she said, existed in poverty stricken areas.

“It not only exists in rural areas but also in informal settlements,” she said.

“For some children, they are involved in the worst forms of child labour for their survival.

“At least they are getting $10 a day, from that they probably help their parents to buy food.”

She said some other forms of worst child labour were deep-sea diving and mining.

ILO official Veronika Naiwaqa said children were vulnerable to the worst forms of labour when they were left unattended.

A rapid assessment survey, conducted by ILO in 2016 on children working on streets, informal sectors and in the worst forms of child labour, revealed that 186 working children were interviewed in the Central, Northern and Western divisions, where it was found that they were engaged in the worst forms of child labour such as commercial sexual exploitation, drug peddlers and doing domestic work for other family members as security guards.

The report also stated that some children worked two or more jobs to earn an income.

It also highlighted that children were also engaged in other forms of child labour such as market vending, car washattendants, selling coconuts, bus checkers and shoe shine workers.