Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation is seriously concerned with regards to children selling food at night especially during weekdays.
This comes after Fijivillage raised the issue with the Ministry that some children are selling food late at night.
A man witnessed a 12-year-old boy selling roti parcel at Sukuna Park in Suva at around 12am last Friday.
The man says that when he asked the boy who had accompanied him and why was he selling that late, the boy had said that he was with his mother.
We have also received other similar reports where children have been seen selling food alone at night.
Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Josefa Koroivueta says that children should not be used to sell at night.
Koroivueta says this is against childrens rights and that child labor is illegal.
He says that this denies children of proper study hours and adequate sleep and rest before the next school day.
He says that parents can seek the Ministry’s help in cases where they have issues raising their children or families.
Dr Koroivueta adds that situations like these exposes children to risks and threats at such public places at night.
He says that they have a cooperation program with the police on such situations and will not tolerate such parental behaviors.
