Transferring the care of migrant workers’ children to their extended families could lead to significant risks of child abuse. Reverend James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), emphasized that the safety and protection of these children must be treated with utmost seriousness.
He highlighted the alarming trend of child abuse occurring when children are left in the care of extended family members. “We need to consider how we can avoid situations where families simply assume someone will take care of the children without proper monitoring,” he stated.
Bhagwan noted that there have been failures in child protection systems, with cases of abuse not limited to the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which sees children moved from rural to urban settings for education. He pointed out that this situation can lead to vulnerabilities like human trafficking.
He urged churches and civil society to step in and provide support to families, children, and partners who remain behind during the workers’ absence. “It is crucial that we assess our internal systems in Pacific nations from which these workers come,” he asserted.
Citing a UNICEF-led study that examined the effects of the PALM scheme on families in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands, Bhagwan indicated that actionable insights for churches and civil society organizations have emerged. “The research complements anecdotal evidence we have gathered, reinforcing our concerns about the children’s welfare and protection within extended family dynamics.”
He pointed out that Fiji is familiar with migrant worker programs, having previously deployed soldiers for peacekeeping missions, among other activities. Depending on circumstances, these workers sometimes take their families with them, creating different challenges and learning opportunities.
Bhagwan acknowledged the importance of cultural and social structures within communities, questioning how behaviors are monitored when individuals are removed from those setups. He suggested that local women’s and men’s fellowship groups could offer essential support to those left behind.
Regarding maintenance and support issues, he referenced the existing systems in Fiji designed to ensure that families receive financial assistance through remittances when a family member is deployed for peacekeeping duties.