Child Labor in Vanuatu: Findings from the U.S. Department of Labor

Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports

Select Country

Vanuatu

2024 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor:

English

Moderate Advancement

In 2024, Vanuatu made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government launched the country’s first ever National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2024–2028), which outlines a comprehensive plan to strengthen prevention and prosecution of trafficking crimes, protection of trafficking victims, and partnerships across the government and with non-governmental organizations to address human trafficking issues. Additionally, it published the findings and datasets from a 2023 household survey that included a child labor measure, creating public data on the prevalence of child labor in the country. The government also took a number of actions to strengthen child protection in the country, such as providing training for child protection officers. However, despite these efforts, Vanuatu does not provide for compulsory education or free basic education in its laws. In addition, the government did not report whether it performed routine, targeted, or unannounced labor inspections during the reporting period. Finally, Vanuatu established 15 years as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is below the international standard of 18 years.

**Statistics on Children's Work and Education**
Children	Age	Percent and Population
Working	5 to 14	46.3% (Unavailable)
Boys		46.0%
Girls		46.5%
Urban		37.7%
Rural		48.3%
Hazardous Work by Children	15 to 17	0.1% (Unavailable)
Boys		0.2%
Girls		0.0%
Urban		0.0%
Rural		0.1%
Attending School	5 to 14	Unavailable
Combining Work and School	7 to 14	75.6%

**Overview of Children's Work by Sector and Activity**

Children in Vanuatu are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in forestry, including logging.
Sector/Industry	Activity
Agriculture	Forestry, including logging.
Services	Street work, including vending.
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡	Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and forced labor in domestic work, logging, and street vending.

‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.

Children at Higher Risk

Traffickers exploit children through the interfamilial cultural practice, or method of paying off debts, called “child swapping,” in which family members send children to live with relatives or other families in town; these children are at an increased risk of exploitation, including human trafficking. Children, especially girls, may become more vulnerable to trafficking for sex or labor and commercial sexual exploitation of children after their community is impacted by natural disasters. Additionally, LGB children are vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Barriers to Education Access

As a nation of small islands, geographic barriers and transportation difficulties limit education access for children living in remote locations. These are exacerbated by frequent natural disasters that damage infrastructure, such as school buildings, which prevent children from attending school. Due to a lack of accessible buildings and specialized teaching skills, children with disabilities face acute challenges to accessing education. Additionally, Vanuatu does not offer free education, nor is education compulsory, and school fees may pose a significant barrier to attending school.

**Laws and Regulations on Child Labor**

Vanuatu has not ratified key international conventions concerning child labor, including the Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons. In addition, Vanuatu’s laws and regulations do not meet international standards on the minimum age for hazardous work because the hazardous work age is set at 15, the identification of hazardous occupations or activities prohibited for children, the prohibition of using children in illicit activities, or free public education.
Standard	Age	Meets International Standards	Legislation
Minimum Age for Work	14	✓	Sections 38 and 39 of the Employment Act
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work	15	✗	Section 40 of the Employment Act
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children		✗	Section 40 of the Employment Act
Prohibition of Slavery, Debt Bondage, and Forced Labor		✓	Sections 7 and 78(2) of the Employment Act; Section 102 of the Penal Code; Sections 2, 34, and 35 of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime Act
Prohibition of Child Trafficking		✓	Section 35 of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime Act
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children		✓	Sections 101B–D of the Penal Code; Sections 2 and 35 of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime Act
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities		✗	Section 35 of the Penal Code
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment		N/A†
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military		N/A†
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups		✗
Compulsory Education Age		✗
Free Public Education		✗	Section 41 of the Education Act 2014

† Country has no standing military

Vanuatu’s hazardous work prohibitions do not comply with international standards that require all children under age 18 to be protected from work that could jeopardize their health and safety, and Vanuatu does not determine by law the types of hazardous work prohibited for children. In addition, the Employment Act permits children under the age of 12 to perform light work in agricultural undertakings owned and managed by their own families, without requiring that the undertaking not have other employees and be for local consumption only. The Employment Act also permits children ages 12 and 13 to work in light agricultural work and domestic work, but it does not specify the activities or hours per week that are allowed. Furthermore, the Penal Code does not include heightened penalties for inducing children to engage in illicit activities, including in drug production and drug trafficking. Vanuatu also lacks free education by law, and there is no age up to which education is compulsory, increasing the risk of children’s involvement in child labor.

**Agencies Responsible for Child Labor Law Enforcement**

It is unknown whether enforcement agencies in Vanuatu took actions to address child labor in 2024. In addition, research indicates that the lack of human and financial resources may have hindered enforcement efforts.
Organization/Agency \| Role & Activities
Department of Labor: Enforces provisions set forth in the Employment Act, including child labor laws. Empowered to issue “spot fines” if any person or company is found to be in violation of the country’s labor laws. Mainly focuses on the use of children in commercial sexual exploitation and illicit activities, in coordination with the Vanuatu Tourism Office and Vanuatu Police Force.
Vanuatu Police Force: Enforces all criminal laws related to the worst forms of child labor and collaborates with the Vanuatu Tourism Office to address commercial sexual exploitation of children. Prosecutes child labor cases.

**Enforcement Mechanisms and Efforts**
Overview of Enforcement Efforts	2024
Has a Labor Inspectorate	Yes
Able to Assess Civil Penalties	Yes
Routinely Conducted Worksite Inspections	Unknown
Unannounced Inspections Permitted	Yes
Has a Complaint Mechanism	Yes
Imposed Penalties for Child Labor Violations	Unknown
Conducted Criminal Investigations for Worst Forms of Child Labor Crimes	Unknown
Imposed Penalties for Worst Forms of Child Labor Crimes	Unknown

In 2024, it is unknown how many labor inspectors conducted worksite inspections or whether child labor violations were found. It is also unknown whether investigations into suspected cases of the worst forms of child labor were conducted or whether prosecutions were initiated.

**Key Mechanism to Coordinate Government Efforts on Child Labor**

Vanuatu established a mechanism to coordinate its efforts to address child labor. However, the government did not report specific activities undertaken during the reporting period.
Coordinating Body \| Role & Activities
National Child Protection Working Group: Serves as the primary forum for exchanging information on child protection and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Chaired by the Director General of the Ministry of Justice and Community Services and coordinated by the ministry’s Child Desk. Comprises representatives from the government, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and NGOs. During the reporting period, the National Child Protection Working Group worked on a new Child Protection Bill that would strengthen interagency coordination on child protection issues and expand the mandates of the Child Desk and its Child Protection Officers.

**Key Policies Related to Child Labor**

Vanuatu established policies related to child labor. However, the policies are inadequate to address the problem of child labor, including in logging, street vending, and forced labor in domestic work.
Policy \| Description & Activities
National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2024–2028):* The Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the International Organization for Migration, launched the country’s first national action plan to combat trafficking in persons. The National Action Plan creates a framework and measures for government agencies to prevent trafficking in persons in Vanuatu.
National Child Protection Policy (2016–2026): Aims to protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Provides children with equitable access to services supporting reintegration and recovery when needed. Parts of this policy would be enacted through the new Child Protection Bill proposed during the reporting period. Under this policy, the Child Desk conducted a 10-day training program for child protection officers that included sessions on past accomplishments, challenges, and plans for 2025. Additionally, the government conducted a Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey in 2023 with education measures and a child labor measure. The findings, which provide prevalence data about child labor in Vanuatu, were published in August 2024.
Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (2021–2030): A strategic plan to strengthen the education sector in Vanuatu, including the education budget and monitoring of expenses. Provides access to education to all children in Vanuatu. Implements quality infrastructure based on needs. Reduces the number of out-of-school children and identifies children studying at the incorrect grade level. The program was active and supported by the government during the reporting period.

* Policy was approved during the reporting period.

**Key Social Programs to Address Child Labor**

Vanuatu funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. However, these social programs are inadequate to address the problem in all sectors and in all states in which child labor has been identified, including in forestry, street work, and commercial sexual exploitation.
Program \| Description & Activities
School Grant Program:‡ Funded by the Government of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Education; provides funding directly to schools. The funds support students of all grade levels, including students in Years 1 through 14, to offset education costs. With a budget of $6,598,839 (817.7 million vatu), the grant program was active in 2024, with funds being disbursed to schools in three installments throughout the year.
National Child Protection Referral Pathway: The Pathway defines the roles of different stakeholders and service providers for support provided to children, such as psychosocial support, access to healthcare, and access to safety and justice. The Pathway was active during the reporting period.

‡ Program is funded by the Government of Vanuatu.
† The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor.

**Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor**

The suggested government actions below would close gaps USDOL has identified in Vanuatu's implementation of its international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
Area	Suggested Action
Legal Framework	Ratify the Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons.
	Raise the minimum age for hazardous work from age 15 to age 18, to comply with international standards, and determine the types of hazardous work prohibited for children after consultation with employers’ and workers’ organizations.
	Ensure that the law protects children ages 12 and 13 employed in light agricultural work by specifying the activities and hours per week that are allowed.
	Ensure that the law requires that family agricultural holdings at which children under 12 work produce only for local consumption and do not regularly employ hired workers.
	Include heightened penalties in the law for the use of children in illicit activities, including in the production and trafficking of drugs.
	Criminally prohibit the recruitment of children under age 18 by non-state armed groups.
	Establish by law provision of free basic public education and establish age 14 as the compulsory education age to match the minimum age for work.
Enforcement	Ensure that labor inspectors conduct routine, targeted, and unannounced inspections in all sectors and workplaces, and publish information on child labor law enforcement efforts undertaken, including labor inspectorate funding, the number and type of labor inspections conducted, violations found, and penalties imposed and collected.
	Ensure that criminal enforcement officials conduct investigations and initiate prosecutions against perpetrators of the worst forms of child labor, and publish information on criminal law enforcement efforts undertaken regarding the worst forms of child labor, including the number of investigations conducted, violations found, prosecutions initiated, convictions made, and penalties imposed.
	Employ at least 5 labor inspectors to ensure adequate coverage of the labor force of approximately 79,000 people, and train labor inspectors on human trafficking and enforcement of child labor laws.
	Ensure that criminal authorities have adequate resources and training to enforce anti-trafficking laws and policies in all jurisdictions.
	Establish and sufficiently fund a formal complaint mechanism that reports and responds to child labor concerns and publicize information about the mechanism’s activities. Ensure that the Department of Labor, the Vanuatu Police Force, the Vanuatu Tourism Office, and social welfare services coordinate efforts with Kastom (an informal method individuals use to settle disputes) to protect and rehabilitate children involved in child labor, including its worst forms.
	Implement digital tracking systems for civil worst forms of child labor inspections.
Government Policies	Fund and implement policies as intended to address all relevant worst forms of child labor, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children, sometimes as a result of human trafficking.
	Ensure that social services providers and civil society organizations are registered and follow a standard set of procedures in providing care to vulnerable children.
	Ensure that the Ministry of Justice’s Child Desk and Child Protection Officers have adequate financial and human resources to develop and implement national child protection policies.
Social Programs	Increase access to education for all children, including those with disabilities, by expanding teacher training, increasing access for remote students, improving access to facilities, and eliminating school fees.
	Collect and publish data on the extent and nature of child labor to inform policies and programs, including in logging and street vending.
	Implement and fund social programs to address child labor in forestry, street work, and commercial sexual exploitation.

Download Child Labor Report PDFs from Previous Years: