“No price can be placed on the cost of lost childhood and the emotional damage suffered by children trapped in child labour.”

These were the words of the Ministry of Employment Permanent Secretary, Salaseini Daunabuna while opening the World Day Against Child Labour Workshop.

She said the world needs a society where people take action when they witness wrongdoing adding that child labour needs to be looked at holistically and on a national basis.

Daunabuna also highlighted that between 2011 to date there have been 200 children who were withdrawn from working and have been placed back into school.                                                     

International Labour Organisation Director for the Pacific, Donglin Li also highlighted that still today 168 million children around the world were reported to have been subdued to some form of child labour.

He adds that a child labour free society can be achieved if stakeholders and members of the society join hands in the elimination of child labour as it is everyone’s business.  

Li also stated that  Fiji is well advanced in the eradication of child labour in the Pacific and this is due to the ratification of the International Labour Organisation core Conventions and policies implemented by the government through the Ministry of Employment.

The 2007 Employment Relations Promulgation legal framework gives the Labour officers and Labour Inspectors the authority to enforce the minimum age of employment and other conditions of employment for children who are above 15 years.

He added those who violate this law can face a fine ranging from $10,000 for individuals or $50,000 for corporations.

Meanwhile, this year’s World Day against Child Labour theme is “Generation Safe and Healthy’.