Curbing child labour

GAPS exist within Fiji’s enforcement agencies to curb child labour in the country, says the United States Department of Labor in its Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor-Fiji report which was released recently.

The report acknowledged Government had established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labour in Fiji.

“However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labour laws,” the report stated.

The report stated the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations enforced laws related to child labour while the police investigated criminal violations and enforced laws on worst forms of labour.

It also stated the Immigration Department was responsible for sexual exploitation of under-age children and human trafficking while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions enforced laws on child labour.

“Research did not find information on whether labour law enforcement agencies in Fiji took actions to address child labour.

“Restriction measures in Fiji due to the pandemic have led to the closing of businesses, which impeded the government’s labour law enforcement activities in 2021.

“The Government did not provide information on labour law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report.”

The report stated the Fiji Police Force could refer children found in cases of the worst forms of child labour on a case-by-case basis to the Department of Social Welfare.

“The Government did not provide information on its criminal law enforcement efforts for inclusion in this report.”

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