Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Fiji (Ratification: 2003)

Article 1 of the Convention. National policy and practical application of the Convention. The Committee previously noted the implementation of an ILO–IPEC project “Tackle child labour through education” (TACKLE project) which aimed to address child labour through education and poverty reduction. The Committee also noted that the Government, through the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, was developing a National Action Plan for Child Labour and a five-year strategic plan (2013–18) for combating child labour, including the worst forms, in coordination with the Ministry of Education. It finally noted the Government’s information on measures taken to continue to strengthen the child labour inspectors of the Ministry of Labour, including by providing 18 new labour inspectors to the Child Labour Unit (CLU) and establishing a National Child Labour Database system, which has been in operation since June 2013.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that, through the TACKLE project, the CLU, assisted by the Ministry of Education, has conducted awareness programmes on child labour in 37 primary schools and 14 secondary schools all over Fiji. Furthermore, the Government indicates that, in the Northern Division, the CLU has conducted awareness programmes for 192 teachers who have become agents for child labour training in their districts. Moreover, the child labour team visited a total of 52 primary schools and 34 secondary schools and provided training to 102 teachers. In the Western division, a total of 39 primary schools and 21 secondary schools were visited and 60 teachers were trained on child labour. The Committee notes, however, the absence of information in the Government’s report regarding the implementation of the National Action Plan for Child Labour and on the application of the Convention in practice. The Committee welcomes the measures taken by the Government and requests it to continue to strengthen its efforts to combat child labour. It once again requests it to provide information on the impact of the National Action Plan for Child Labour and the five-year strategic plan (2013–18) for combating child labour. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including statistical data on the employment of children and young persons that is gathered in the National Child Labour Database system, extracts from the reports of inspection services and information on the number and nature of violations detected involving children and young persons.

Article 7(1) and (3). Light work and determination of light work activities. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that section 93(2) of the Employment Relations Promulgation No. 36 of 2007 raises the age for children who may perform light work from 13 to 14 years. The Committee however noted that the draft provision, did not contain a list determining the types of light work, or the number of hours during which, and conditions in which, such work may be undertaken. Noting the lack of information received on this point, the Committee once again strongly requests the Government to take the opportunity of the amendment process to adopt the list determining types of light work activities for persons between the ages of 14 to 16 years, in addition to the number of hours during which and the conditions in which such employment may be undertaken.