Ministry Removes 231 Children from Work Environment
Atotal of 231 children have been removed from child labour environment in Fiji from June to date by the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations. This was highlighted by the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Parveen Kumar Bala during the World Day Against Child Labour celebrations in Suva on Wednesday.
“We have returned them to schools with some being admitted into technical training programmes. In doing so, I would like to acknowledge the support from our stakeholders and strategic partners, partner ministries in
making this happen and ensure that we achieve our targets and give our children the best possible environment to grow and develop,” Mr Bala said.
The minister also stressed that the fight against child labour was a global one and we needed to ensure that we work together to send children to schools so that they could make their own dreams a reality.
He said the ministry had previously worked with strategic partners in signing an inter-agency guideline in December 2015. They are also working towards a National Policy on Child Labour to ensure a collective approach towards eradicating child labour from the society.
“Not all types of work carried out by children are considered child labour. Engagement of children or adolescents in work with no influence on their health and schooling is usually regarded positive,” Mr Bala said. “The International Labour Organisation (ILO) describes child labour as work that deprives children of their childhood, potential and dignity.” The theme for this year’s event is “Children shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams”.