MORE than 200 children have been withdrawn from exploitative work and returned to school through the efforts of a dedicated inter-agency task force, Acting Minister for Employment Filimoni Vosarogo revealed yesterday.
Speaking in Suva during the World Day Against Child Labour commemoration, Mr Vosarogo said the task force, comprising the Ministry of Employment, the Fiji Police Force, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection and other partners, was making tangible progress in addressing child labour.
“That is real progress, but we do not think that we should stop there,” he said.
He acknowledged that child labour remained a reality in Fiji, particularly in informal sectors and family-based work.
“While strong families and community bonds have shielded many of our children, we know the truth.
“Child labour still exists today in our corridors, in our roads and in our communities.”
He warned that child labour continued to disrupt children’s education and place them at risk.
“It disrupts the education of young minds, endangers young bodies and robs our children of the bright future that Fiji boasted.”
Mr Vosarogo said Fiji had strengthened its legal framework by ratifying the International Labour Organization’s Convention 138 on minimum age and Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour.
“These commitments are not just in words on our paper; they are now firmly on our laws, including the Employment Relations Act.”
