Country profile FJI
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5-17 | 18.778 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 12.299 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 15.647 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 19.645 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 13.488 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 16.669 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2013-05-28 | C138 & C182 | Hazardous Occupations Prohibited to Children Under 18 Years of Age Order | [{"link_name":"Hazardous Occupations Prohibited to Children Under\r\n18 Years of Age Order","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/106489/FJI106489.pdf"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | The Order prohibits the employment of children aged less than 18 years in hazardous occupations. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2007-10-02 | C182 | Employment Relations Promulgation - Section 91 (b) | [{"link_name":"Employment Relations Promulgation","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/76385/FJI76385.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 91 (b) the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs as defined in relevant international treaties. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2007-10-02 | C182 | Employment Relations Promulgation - Section 91 (c) | [{"link_name":"Employment Relations Promulgation","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/76385/FJI76385.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Section 91 (c) the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances, and a person who engages a child in such prohibited form of child labour commits an offence. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2007-10-02 | C182 | Employment Relations Promulgation - Section 91 | [{"link_name":"Employment Relations Promulgation","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/76385/FJI76385.pdf"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Section 91. The following forms of child labour are prohibited— (a) all forms of labour slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and any form of forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children in armed conflict; |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2007-10-02 | C182 | Employment Relations Promulgation - Section 91 | [{"link_name":"Employment Relations Promulgation","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/76385/FJI76385.pdf"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Section 91. The following forms of child labour are prohibited— (a) all forms of labour slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and any form of forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children in armed conflict; |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2013-05-28 | C138 & C182 | Hazardous Occupations Prohibited To Children Under 18 Years of Age Order - Section 3 | [{"link_name":"Hazardous Occupations Prohibited To Children Under 18 Years of Age Order","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/106489/FJI106489.pdf"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. | Section 3 entitled List of hazardous occupations amended section 95(2) of the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007. The list includes occupations or workplaces that are prohibited for a child, including occupations in the manufacturing and construction sector, among others. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2013-05-28 | C138 & C182 | Hazardous Occupations Prohibited To Children Under 18 Years of Age Order | [{"link_name":"Hazardous Occupations Prohibited To Children Under 18 Years of Age Order","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/106489/FJI106489.pdf"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | The law prohibits the employment of children under the age of 18 years old to undertake the activities and occupations listed in the hazardous child labour list. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2009 | C138 | National University Act - section 4 (xi) | [{"link_name":"National University Act","source_link":"https://laws.gov.fj/Acts/ViewSection/91526?query=ITC%20Act%202012"}] | 18 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | According to section 4 (xi), the minimum age for apprenticeship is 18 years. There is no maximum age limit for entry into the scheme but good health is necessary and valid medical certificate is required before registration. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 1997-01-20 | C138 | Compulsory Education Order - Section 3 | [{"link_name":"Compulsory Education Order","source_link":"https://www.laws.gov.fj/Acts/DisplayAct/438#"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Section 3 provides that the compulsory school age means any age between and inclusive of 6 years and 15 years old. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | Draft amendment | [{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4133845,103278:NO"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | According to the CEACR Direct Request on C138, 2022, "The Committee previously took note of the legislative proposal to raise the minimum age for light work from 13 to 14 years and requested the Government to include the adoption of a list determining the types of light work activities in the amendment process." |
| Minimum age for light work | 2007-10-02 | C138 | Employment Relations Promulgation - 93. (1) | [{"link_name":"-Employment Relations Promulgation","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/76385/FJI76385.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4133845,103278"}] | 13 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | 93.—(1) A child under the age of 15 years must not be employed in any capacity other than in accordance with subsection (2) and a person who contravenes this subsection commits an offence. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a child of 13 to 15 years of age engaged in employment or light work or in a workplace in which members of the same family or of communal or religious group are employed provided that (a) the employment is not likely to be harmful to the health or development of the child; and (b) the employment is not such as to prejudice the child attendance at school, participation in vocational orientation or training programmes approved by a competent authority or capacity of the child to benefit from the instruction received. According to the CEACR Direct Request on C138, 2022, "The Committee previously took note of the legislative proposal to raise the minimum age for light work from 13 to 14 years and requested the Government to include the adoption of a list determining the types of light work activities in the amendment process. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2007-10-02 | C138 | Employment Relations Promulgation - Article 92 | [{"link_name":"-Employment Relations Promulgation","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/76385/FJI76385.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4133845,103278"}] | 15 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Article 92 sets 15 as the minimum age for employment. 93.—(1) A child under the age of 15 years must not be employed in any capacity other than in accordance with subsection (2) and a person who contravenes this subsection commits an offence. According to the CEACR Direct Request on C138, 2022, "The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a proposal to amend the Employment Relations Act 2007 to increase the minimum working age from 15 years to 16 years has been formulated under the MAP 16 Project." |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 17-APR-2002 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 03-JAN-2003 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In its Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022) on the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), the Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that, following the selection of Fiji as a pathfinder country for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7 on ‘Ending Child Labour’, the Government has pledged to finalize the National Child Labour Policy and to review the child labour component of the National Employment Policy. It further notes that the Government points out that in the context of the ILO Measurement, Awareness- Raising and Policy Engagement Project (MAP16 Project), the Ministry of Employment, representatives of workers and representative of employers are working together to address and accelerate action on child labour. Both the National Action Plan 2021-2025 and the National Child Labour Policy have been formulated with support from the MAP16 Project. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the adoption and further implementation of the National Action Plan 2021-2025 and the National Child Labour Policy. | [{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4133845,103278:NO"}] | 2021-2025 | National Action Plan | Ministry Of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations |