An international monitoring body has called on the Fijian Government to amplify its efforts to eradicate child labour, highlighting the continuing engagement of a significant number of children in work despite established laws and commitments. According to the latest report from the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations under the Minimum Age Convention, which Fiji ratified in 2003, progress has been made in aligning national legislation with international standards.
However, the committee pointed out that from 2011 to 2024, a total of 267 cases of child labour were identified in the country, involving 196 boys and 71 girls. Notably, in 2024 alone, five cases were recorded, consisting of four boys and one girl. This troubling statistic underscores the urgent need for action, especially as a UNICEF 2024 country fact sheet estimates that 17 percent of children aged five to 11 in Fiji are engaged in child labour, with a larger proportion being boys.
The report emphasizes the necessity for the Fijian Government to bolster its initiatives aimed at progressively eliminating child labour. It notes that the National Action Plan 2021–2025 and the National Child Labour Policy need to be formally adopted and implemented, particularly in light of an ongoing review of the Employment Relations Act (ERA) 2007. The committee has urged authorities to provide ongoing updates regarding the status of these measures and detailed statistics that reflect the nature and trend of child labour, broken down by age and gender.
Furthermore, the committee welcomed news that proposed amendments to the ERA are set to raise the minimum working age from 15 to 16 years, expressing optimism that this revised legislation will be adopted soon. This step is seen as a pivotal move toward safeguarding children’s rights and fostering a brighter future for the youth in Fiji.
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