The Fiji Times

An estimated 10.5 million children worldwide, most of them under age, are working as domestic workers in people’s homes, in hazardous and sometimes slavery-like conditions, says the ILO. Six and a half million of these child labourers are aged between five and 14 years-old. More than 71% are girls.

According to the latest figures in a new ILO report, ‘Ending Child Labour in domestic work’, they work in the homes of a third party or employer, carrying out tasks such as cleaning, ironing, cooking, gardening, collecting water, looking after other children and caring for the elderly.

Vulnerable to physical, psychological and sexual violence and abusive working conditions, they are often isolated from their families, hidden from the public eye and become highly dependent on their employers. Many might end up being commercially sexually exploited.

“The situation of many child domestic workers not only constitutes a serious violation of child rights, but remains an obstacle to the achievement of many national and international development objectives,” said Constance Thomas, Director of the ILO’s international program on the elimination of child labour, IPEC.

The report, launched to mark World Day Against Child Labour, calls for concerted and joint action at national and international levels to eliminate child labour in domestic work.

The cost of child labour

Daniel Naidu
Thursday, June 13, 2013

STUDENTS from 10 schools attended a ceremony marking World Day Against Child Labour at the Suva Civic Centre yesterday.

The theme for 2013 is ‘No to Child Labour in Domestic Work’.

Chief guest and acting permanent secretary for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Samuela Namosimalua highlighted the issue of child labour in Fiji.

“The consequences of child labour on the life opportunities of those affected are difficult to measure. No price can be placed on the cost of lost childhood, or the psychological and emotional damage suffered by children trapped in child labour, particularly hazardous child labour,” Mr Namosimalua said.

He said while the awareness on the issue of commercial child labour had “probably never been greater than it is today”, children missing school to attend to domestic work was a problem often overlooked.

“Many a time, we hear that some children have to stay home and away from school to look after their younger siblings.”

Mr Namosimalua urged members of the public to report any instances of child labour to the Labour Ministry.