Govt. cracks down on ‘child labour’

Shops and businesses be warned!

Selling goods to young people who should be in school and encouraging them to re-sell it is illegal and it could land you in jail.

That’s the combined message from the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Police as they step up the enforcement of the country’s Compulsory Education Law.

With most students returning to school next Monday, the Ministries will have three teams of officials monitoring areas where young street vendors are known to congregate instead of going to school.

The teams will cover the entire Apia Township and nearby villages stretching all the way to Puipa’a on west Upolu and Letogo to the east.

Teams will also monitor the Falealili Road from Apia up to Vailima and Vaoala.

The Ministries held a public consultation yesterday at the National University of Samoa where the plan was discussed.

Speaking during the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education, Matafeo Falanaipupu Aiafi, said it is disappointing that despite the Compulsory Education Act 2009; many young people are still not in schools.

A lot of them are found on the streets of Apia hawking goods and pestering members of the public during school hours.

The C.E.O said the Compulsory Education Law was put in place by the government because of the importance of education.

But that wasn't all.

Due to complaints from parents that they could not afford school fees, the government – with assistance from donor countries Australia and New Zealand – have made free education a reality in Samoa.

“The idea was for this scheme to lessen the burden on parents who had claimed they couldn't cater for school fees,” said Matafeo.

“But even after the scheme was introduced, there are still many children vendors out there.”

Matafeo said the enforcement of the law next week is an important step to ensure the young people, who are the future of Samoa, are given an education.

He called on the support from everyone to make the task easy.

“The Police and the Ministry of Education cannot do it alone,” he said. “We can’t chase the children. By the time we get to them, they are long gone. So we need help from parents and our village leaders.”

According to the Compulsory Education Act, it specifies that any parent whose child is found selling wares on the streets during school hours from 9-2pm would be penalised with a fine of $1,000.

Matafeo said he does not want this to be imposed on anyone, claiming that many of the parents cannot afford such hefty fines.

“I have been to the families of these children and for many of them, this is how they make their living,” he said.

Under the Act, the compulsory school age is from 5-14-years-old.

Speaking about companies known to sell goods to young kids, Matafeo cautioned them against continuing this practise.

“You can be charged,” he said. “We are here as a business community, a ministry and as members of the public to discuss how to enforce the Compulsory Education Act 2009,” he said. “We must put our heads together to discuss the problem and solutions, how to effectively implement this law. We need to change our thinking and change the strategy.”

Speaking on behalf of the Police, Detective Senior Sergeant Maotaoali’i Kaioneta Kitiona said the problem is the law is only effective for them to enforce from 9a.m. to 2p.m.

But there is reason to be optimistic.

He revealed that another piece of legislation is in the pipeline, designed to stop the existence of child labour in Samoa.

In relation to the business people encouraging street vendors, the Detective left a stern warning. “They can be charged under the law,” he said.