2004 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - Solomon Islands
| Publisher | United States Department of Labor |
| Author | Bureau of International Labor Affairs |
| Publication Date | 22 September 2005 |
| Cite as | United States Department of Labor, 2004 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - Solomon Islands, 22 September 2005, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/48c8ca7346.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
| Selected Child Labor Measures Adopted by Governments | |
|---|---|
| Ratified Convention 138 | |
| Ratified Convention 182 | |
| ILO-IPEC Member | |
| National Plan for Children (Youth Policy) | X |
| National Child Labor Action Plan | |
| Sector Action Plan | |
Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
The ILO estimated that 22.4 percent of children ages 10 to 14 years in the Solomon Islands were working in 2002.[3632] Commercial sexual exploitation of children is reportedly a growing problem in the Solomon Islands.[3633] It was reported in 2000 that several hundred child soldiers were fighting in the ranks of the Guadalcanelese and Malaitan militias. Dozens of these children are reportedly still affiliated with their former commanders in quasi-criminal gangs.[3634]
Education in the Solomon Islands is not compulsory,[3635] and school fees are high relative to local family incomes.[3636] Many children are reportedly denied access to education due to early entrance into work.[3637] Gross and net primary enrollment rates are unavailable for the Solomon Islands.[3638] However, some education data show that only 60 percent of school-age children have access to primary education.[3639] Recent primary school attendance statistics are not available for the Solomon Islands. The state of education is reported to have worsened in recent years due to poor infrastructure, lack of financial resources, and irregular payment of teachers. This has caused some schools to shut down completely.[3640]
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
The Labor Act prohibits the employment of children below the age of 12. Children may participate in light agricultural or domestic labor if they are employed by, or in the company of their parents.[3641] Children under the age of 16 are prohibited from working in industry or on ships, except on approved training ships, and children under the age of 16 may not work underground in mines.[3642] The Constitution prohibits slavery and forced labor.[3643] The procurement of girls under 18 years of age for the purposes of prostitution is prohibited under Part XVI of the Penal Code ("Offences Against Morality").[3644] The Penal Code, Part XXVI, "Offences Against Liberty," provides for sanctions for the abduction of children.[3645]
The Labor Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry is tasked with enforcing child labor laws,[3646] but information of the effectiveness of this Division and other enforcement measures is not available.
Current Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor
The Government of the Solomon Islands has a National Youth Policy to address the welfare needs of youth ages 14 to 29, and also those of children below the age of 14 facing difficult situations.[3647] There is weak government support for the National Advisory Committee on Children (NACC) and it has limited effectiveness in coordinating the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.[3648]
The UN Development Assistance Framework 2003-2007, which was based on the government's Common Country Assessment, aims to improve access, quality and delivery of basic services, including basic education.[3649] The country's National Education Master Plan 1999-2010 also includes provisions to improve the quality, scope, and relevance of education.[3650] The Ministry of Education has developed various training programs and services to equip primary and secondary school teachers and education administrators.[3651]
[3632] World Bank, World Development Indicators 2004 [CD-ROM], Washington, D.C., 2004.
[3633] UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention: Solomon Islands, online, CRC/C/51/Add.6, Geneva, July 12, 2002, 115; available from http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.51.Add.6.En?OpenDocument. See also Global March Against Child Labor, Worst Forms of Child Labour: Solomon Islands, [online] [cited February 11, 2004]; available from http://www.globalmarch.org/worst formsreport/world/solomon-islands.htm.
[3634] U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2003: Solomon Islands, February 25, 2004 [cited February 26, 2004]; available from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27789.htm. See also Amnesty International, Solomon Islands: A Forgotten Conflict, [online] 2000 [cited February 10, 2004]; available from http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/ASA430052000?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\SOLOMON+ISLANDS.
[3635] UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention: Solomon Islands, 89.
[3636] U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2003: Solomon Islands, Section 5. See also UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention: Solomon Islands, 90.
[3637] UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding Observations: Solomon Islands, CRC/C/15/Add.208, Geneva, July 2, 2003, 14; available from http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/ccf51b3b3aa93c91c1256db90024ca4c?Opendocument.
[3638] World Bank, World Development Indicators 2004.
[3639] UN Committee Economic Social and Cultural Rights, Review of the Implementation of CESCR: Solomon Islands, E/C.12/1/Add.33, Geneva, May 1999, 23; available from http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(symbol)/E.C.12.1.Add.33.En?opendocument.
[3640] U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2003: Solomon Islands, Section 5.
[3641] Section 84 of the Labor Act, as cited in UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention: Solomon Islands, 111.
[3642] Ibid., 112.
[3643] Constitution of the Solomon Islands, 1978, Chapter II, Article 6; available from http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/paclawmat/Solomon_Islands_legislation/Solomons_Constitution.html.
[3644] UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention: Solomon Islands, 56.
[3645] Section 246 of the Penal Code as cited in Ibid., 55.
[3646] U.S. Department of State, Country Reports – 2003: Solomon Islands, Section 6d.
[3647] UN, Common Country Assessment: Solomon Islands, previously online, Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, 2002, 75; available from http://www.undp.org.fj/CCAs.htm [hard copy on file].
[3648] Ibid., 76. See also Dr. Dennie Iniakwala, Presentation of the National Initial CRC Implementation report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Geneva, May 26, 2003, 3. See also UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding Observations: Solomon Islands, 2.
[3649] UN, Solomon Islands: United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2003-2007), Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, [online] 2002 [cited July 21 2003,], Foreword, 11; available from http://www.undp.org.fj/documents/UNDAF_SOLIS_17%20JULY.doc.
[3650] Mr. Johnson Moffat Ramoni, Education for All 2000 Assessment: Country Reports – Solomon Islands, UNESCO, [online] [cited February 11, 2004]; available from http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/solomon_islands/rapport_3.html.
[3651] UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention: Solomon Islands, 90.
