School dropouts increase child labour risk in Fiji

Secondary school completion rates in Fiji have dropped significantly, raising concerns about an increase in child labour. Fiji Trade Union Congress Assistant National Secretary Jotika Sharma reported that while the primary school completion rate is 97 percent, it falls to 80 percent in lower secondary and a mere 54 percent in upper secondary, citing UNICEF data from May 2025.

Sharma warned that children leaving school early are more susceptible to exploitation, unemployment, and child labour. She emphasized that ending child labour requires not only removing children from work but also ensuring they remain in school to complete their education. Union members are urged to act as the "eyes and ears" in the workplace to report any incidents.

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And in the context of child labour, as already mentioned, Convention 138 on the minimum age of employment, and Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour. Union members also play a critical role. They are also eyes and ears at the workplace to report any incidents of child labour.

International Labour Law Specialist Maria Cabera highlighted that quality education is key. This includes proper school facilities and trained teachers, particularly in remote areas. Cabera also noted the importance of access to information, stating that discussions around the worst forms of child labour, such as the sale and trafficking of children, were once taboo but are now unavoidable.

Officials believe that addressing the root causes of school dropouts is essential for Fiji to achieve its goal of eliminating child labour. The trend underscores the need for continued efforts to keep young people engaged in education throughout their schooling.

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The second element is basically access to information. Many years ago, talking about child labour was a kind of taboo, especially when we talk about the worst forms of child labour. No one wanted to talk about the sale of children or the trafficking of children, but we are in an era where we cannot avoid it anymore.