Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Jone Usamate has urged parents to encourage and educate their children rather than sending them out selling food parcels at night.

“Children should be allowed to help in their families but it should not be to an extent where it has a negative impact on their education and safety,” Mr Usamate said.

These statements were made following reports that children are found selling food parcels at night in urban areas.

“That should not be happening because those things should be done by the parents, because if they are sent out at night they cannot rest their bodies and it will have a negative impact on their education.”

“Children can help because when it is time to be home safe, then they should be home safe.”

He said the Fiji Government had implemented programmes focused on assisting struggling low income earning families in their bid to tackle child labour.

“Assisting with the school fees, books, social welfare and a whole list of programmes to help the children because we are trying to make sure those children attend school,” he said.

Mr Usamate added any reported child labour cases would be dealt with, in a manner where they would find the quickest way in getting the child to attend school.

“It is important for us that the children pursue their education to find better work later on.”

Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) assistant national secretary Rouhit Karan Singh said the ILO’s campaign was focused on the eradication of child labour.

“Bringing it to an end and furthermore to promote the safety and health culture in young workers,” Mr Singh said.

He said that a young worker was classified to be within the age of 15 to 24-years.

“We are proud that Fiji’s governing legislation Employment Regulations Promulgation 2007 Part 10 has provisions incorporated to protect children from the worst form of labour, protection of health, safety and morals of children and confers certain rights in children from exploitation,” he said.

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar