Child Labour

Observing the World Day against Child Labour in Suva, Fiji

The ILO’s Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (No. 182) has achieved almost universal ratification by the ILO’s 187 member States, and the ratification rate of the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) is not far behind.

News | 12 June 2019
12th June 2019, World Day Against Child Labour in Suva, Fiji
Suva (ILO News) - World Day against Child Labour was commemorated this morning in Suva, Fiji with the theme ‘Children shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams. Officiating at the event, Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports Hon. Parveen Kumar Bala highlighted that the Fijian Government is prioritizing education for all Fijian children as a sustainable and viable alternative to any form of child labour. He also stated that this year’s theme reflects the commitment of the Fijian Government for prompt action to stop child labour in all forms.

ILO Pacific office Director, Mr Donglin Li, who attended the event in Suva, Fiji, said “The ILO works closely with its government and employers’ and workers’ organizations, as well as with other international organizations, civil society and the media to support the campaign of eliminating child labour.”

Mr. Li stated “We need to urgently accelerate the pace of progress. But to do this - and also meet Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for the end of child labour by 2025 – more coherent action is required, ensuring the availability of quality education, social protection for all, and decent work for parents.” Mr. Li is calling for full ratification and implementation of ILO’s Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) and Convention C138 - Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No.138) in the Pacific, on the World Day against Child Labour.

In 2019, the International Labour Organization is celebrating 100 years of advancing social justice and promoting decent work, and also marks 20 years since the adoption of the ILO’s Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). The ILO’s Centenary is particularly significant because the ILO has been working for the abolition of child labour since its earliest days. Two of the first six Conventions the ILO adopted in its first year, 1919, addressed child labour. Its abolition is now the subject of one of the ILO’s fundamental principles, along with ending forced labour and work-related discrimination, and promoting freedom of association and collective bargaining.

In 100 years the ILO have made substantial progress, not least because of intense advocacy and national mobilization backed by legislative and practical action. Between 2000 and 2016 alone, there was a 38 per cent decrease in child labour globally. The ILO’s Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (No. 182) has achieved almost universal ratification by the ILO’s 187 member States, and the ratification rate of the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) is not far behind.

Fiji is a Pathfinder Country of Alliance 8.7 and has been appointed the focal point to lead the acceleration effort. The Pathfinder Countries are those countries that commit to going further and faster to achieve Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals. They are countries, committed to accelerate efforts with new action and willing to try new approaches from which others can learn to support Target 8.7’s urgent deadlines.

A Fiji National Strategic Planning Workshop for the launch of Alliance 8.7 in Fiji will be held in July this year, in Suva, to bring together relevant ministries and institutions responsible for combating child labour and human trafficking, employer’s and worker’s organizations, UN agencies, development partners, business networks, civil society organizations, the academia, research institutions and other actors involved with the objective of identifying challenges, priorities, key actions and timelines to achieve target 8.7 in the country.

On this World Day Against Child Labour 2019, let’s join forces to end child labour in Fiji and the Pacific Island Countries!