Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Fiji (Ratification: 2002)

Article 5 of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms. In reply to the previous request for information on the activities of the Child Labour Unit (CLU), the Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that the CLU has the specific role of monitoring and training labour inspectorates and other relevant stakeholders on child labour issues. In addition, the CLU carries out investigation of child labour cases and coordinates with employers’ and workers’ organizations awareness raising activities on child labour. The Committee also notes that the Government indicates that the Labour Standards Services Unit ensures the maintenance of a child labour information system with the objective of maintaining proper and effective management of child labour cases. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the CLU in identifying and combating the worst forms of child labour and to provide updated information on the number and nature of violations detected. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken to strengthen the role of law enforcement bodies in detecting and combating the worst forms of child labour.

Article 7(2). Effective and time bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the measures taken by the Government to facilitate access to free and basic education and requested for information on their impact.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in 2018 the number of children dropping out of school for financial reasons was at an all-time low. The Government adds that, from 1 January 2010 to July 2021, 247 children were removed from child labour and re-integrated into the mainstream education system. The Committee notes that, according to UNESCO statistics, in 2016 the net enrolment rate for primary education was 96.8 per cent; and, in 2015, the effective transition rate from primary to lower secondary general education was 98 per cent. The Committee also notes from the 2017 UNICEF Situation Analysis of Children in Fiji that indirect costs, including uniforms, exercise books and transport continue to drive children from deprived families to drop out of school (page 75 of the UNICEF report). Considering that education is key in preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information measures to ensure that all children, in particular those from socially and economically disadvantaged families, have access to free basic education. The Committee also requests the Government to provide updated statistical information on school enrolment rates, drop-out rates and completion rates for both primary and lower secondary education, if possible disaggregated by age and gender.