Child labour laws ineffective

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Auelua Samuelu Enari has said his Ministry has not received any reports of child labour.

This is despite daily evidence of young children seen selling in the streets of Apia.

But Auelua says that the problem lies with the parents.

“There is no employer-employee relationship for children who are seen everyday around town.” he said.

“The truth is, their parents have contacts with businesses or buy goods from companies or shops and give it to their kids to go and sell it."

“They (children) have no commercial relationship as an employee to an employer. The only time that we step in is when there is that relationship."

“No child labour complaints were registered or reported to our ministry but we’re still working in questioning these young ones as to who they are working with.” he said.

“They say they came with their parents and I believe such actions will harm the lives of these young ones and they may face violence or social problems in their lives."

“What we have found is that it is a parent-child relationship not an employment relationship."

Tautolo Falefitu, a father from Aleisa who agreed that parents are at fault, was adamant that more could be done by government.

“Children in Samoa are engaged in child labour,”

“As a parent, we are the ones who lead these children by setting good examples for their futures."

“Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Maybe in the next five to ten years, the problem will increase."

“My advice to the government is that policies should be enforced."

"Don’t just set up rules and let them stay there; it’s time to act."

“If the present child labour laws are not working; then change the laws before it’s too late."

“What’s happening in our country is that we see many young children on the streets begging – and selling items for whatever money they can get for the sake of their parents and families. We need these children for the future of our country.”

A shop owner at the Savalalo Flea Market who preferred not to be named, also laid the blame at the feet of parents.

“The main problem I notice is the parents,” he said.

“They come early in the morning with shopping and give it to their children to go and sell it."

“Then they find a corner where they can relax, or roam around town until their children are done for the day."

“I just can’t believe it how these parents can do that to their children."

“Disgusting!” he said.

Previous reports in 2013 revealed that Samoa made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

The Government enacted the Labor and Employment Relations Act, which raised the minimum age for hazardous work to 18 and thus also replaced the Criminal Code with a new law that strengthened protections against the sexual exploitation of children, and criminalized forced labour.

Auelua said that the Government also established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labour with the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Police and others.

In addition, an international donorsupported Government programme to provide free public education was extended through the secondary grades.

The Education Act stipulates that a child under age 15 cannot be involved in work of any kind at any time if this work would interfere with the child's school attendance, participation in school activities, or educational development. While free public education through the secondary level is being implemented through an international donor-funded Government program, this right is not enshrined in law.