Samoa Continues Efforts To End Child Labour
(Photo: RNZI.)
A street vendor selling his wares at the Savalalo bus terminal
Samoa's attempts to abolish child labor and street vendors in the country continue with the preparation of the National Workplan for Child Labour and the launch of the Samoa Follow-up Quick Assessment on Street Vendors.
These efforts seek to assure conformity with ratified international conventions while also providing formal schooling and early childhood learning benefits to children.
In 2017, Samoa undertook a Situational Analysis of Child Labor in Samoa with technical assistance from the International Labor Organization (ILO).
The study indicated deficiencies in legislation, the necessity for a mechanism for legal processes in cases of child labor, and the construction of a national workplan framework to conceptualize each sector, implementing agencies, and help necessary by Samoa with development partners from time to time.
Samoa performed a followup survey in 2022 through the National University of Samoa in collaboration with the ILO and UNICEF. The Samoa Child Labour Taskforce and Samoa National Tripartite Forum requested the creation of a workplan to organize the activities of all implementing partners because gaps still exist despite the progress that has been made. According to Alliance 8.7, the objective is to eradicate child labor by 2025.
The Samoa National Workplan was created on March 29th of this week, taking into account ongoing partner initiatives, UN agency programs, priorities set by the Child Labour Taskforce, and suggestions from the Samoa National Tripartite Forum.
The Samoa Quick Assessment follow-up Survey 2022 was also formally introduced on the same day. The survey, which was finished in 2022 and just just given Cabinet approval, tries to spot any modifications that might have taken place since the initial evaluation.
Mr. Albert Meredith, the focal point for Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country, and Ms. Bharati Pflug, an ILO Senior Specialist, facilitated the consultation. In addition, on Samoa's request, UNICEF, the ILO, and other UN organizations will continue to be accessible to provide technical support.