Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Papua New Guinea (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes the communication of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) of 31 August 2011 and the Government’s report.

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (b). Use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, or for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided by both the Government’s report and the ITUC’s communication that the Child Sexual Assault Bill will soon be adopted, which includes provisions dealing with children involved in commercial sexual exploitation and the production of pornography. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the Child Sexual Assault Act, once it is adopted.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Prevention of the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted that education is neither compulsory nor free in Papua New Guinea, and that the legislation does not specify a legal age for entering and leaving school. The Committee also noted that the number of new entrants to grade 1 had decreased and that only 26 per cent of children were participating in secondary school. Moreover, the Committee noted the statement in the United Nations Country Programme (UNCP) 2008–12 that girls are under-represented at every level of education. The UNCP indicated that girls’ lower participation in education stems from a number of factors, including school fees, poverty and safety. Finally, the Committee further noted that the ILO–IPEC Time-bound Programme entitled “Tackling child labour through education” (TACKLE project) began implementation in 2008 and is scheduled to finish in January 2012.

The Committee notes the ITUC’s observations that primary school in Papua New Guinea is neither free, compulsory, or universal. The gross primary enrolment rate is 55.2 per cent, but only 68 per cent of these children remain in school by the age of 10. Less than 20 per cent of the country’s children attend secondary school.

The Committee notes that the Education Department has developed a ten year National Education Plan for 2005–15 (NEP) to enable more children to be in school. The Government indicates that the NEP aims to attain a 90 per cent school attendance rate and eventually attain free education. However, the number of school dropouts has compelled the Government to refocus on informal education, such as technical and vocational training. Considering that education contributes to preventing children from engaging in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee once again urges the Government to redouble its effort to improve the functioning of the education system, in particular by increasing the school enrolment rate and decreasing the number of school dropouts, paying special attention to girls. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved through the TACKLE project and the NEP.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Child victims/orphans of HIV/AIDS. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that according to the Government’s UNGASS 2008 Country Progress Report, the number of children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic was increasing in the country, as was the number of orphans living with HIV. The Committee also noted that a four-year national strategy for the protection, care and support of orphans and other vulnerable children had been developed by the Orphans and Vulnerable Children National Action Committee. The Committee noted the indication in the Government’s UNGASS Report of March 2010 (2010 UNGASS Report) that HIV/AIDS orphans have a lower school attendance rate than non orphans. However, the Committee also noted the indication in the 2010 UNGASS Report that the Department of Education endorsed the national strategy for most vulnerable children in 2009. The Committee further noted the indication in the UNICEF document entitled “Protection and Care for Children Faced with HIV and AIDS in East Asia and the Pacific” that a new national child protection policy was being developed, which would provide a framework for improving the care of orphans and other vulnerable children.

The Committee observes that the Government provides no information on this issue in its report. Recalling that children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable children are at an increased risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to strengthen its efforts to ensure that such children are protected from these worst forms. It once again requests the Government to provide specific information on the measures taken in this regard, within the framework of the national strategy for the protection, care and support of orphans and other vulnerable children and the national child protection policy.