202. Education is not compulsory in Fiji, for the cost of providing free education to all children would be prohibitive. The current policy is to provide tuition fee-free education for all children in primary schools, with the aim of eventually making education compulsory up to 15 years. The power to make education compulsory rests with the Minister of Education, Women, Culture, Science and Technology.

28. (g) The Employment Act provides important protection for children because union agreements with employers generally only cover workers aged 17 or older. The Act defines children as under 15 and does not permit the employment of children under the age of 12. Section 59 states that children under 12 years are not allowed to work in any capacity whatsoever, and provides protection for children from long hours, night work and hard or heavy work. Section 60 allows that a child can be employed only on a daily basis for a daily wage and that the child must return each night to the residence of the parents or guardian. Section 64 states that a child shall not be employed for more than six hours a day;

28. (c) The Marriage Act (sect. 12) states that the minimum age for marriage is 16 years for women and 18 years for men. However, consent is needed from the father if the person is under 21 years of age. If he has died, the mother or a magistrate can give consent;

28. (a) The Juveniles Act (sect. 29) states that no child under the age of 10 years can be guilty of any offence. A child between 10 and 12 can be found guilty only if it can be shown that the child knows the crime he or she committed was wrong. […]