‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of International Labor Organization Convention 182.

Children at Higher Risk

Undocumented children in Papua New Guinea are at an increased risk for exploitation, including human trafficking and the worst forms of child labor. Only approximately 15 percent of children in the country have their birth registered.

Barriers to Education Access

Children in Papua New Guinea face multiple barriers to education. Unpaid teachers, a lack of transportation, aging infrastructure, and a lack of reliable water supplies and sanitation facilities have been exacerbated by the government frequently failing in its obligation to provide schools with sufficient funding. Natural disasters, such as flooding, volcanos, earthquakes, and disease outbreaks present acute risks to education access because almost 80 percent of schools lack electricity, limiting remote and online-based learning opportunities. Girls are at an increased risk of being subjected to gender-based violence, which affects school attendance. In total, 25 percent of primary and secondary school-aged children do not attend school.

* Country has no conscription

Papua New Guinea's existing legal framework governing child labor does not meet international standards in a number of areas. Although Papua New Guinea meets international standards for the minimum age for work, Article 103 of the Papua New Guinea Employment Act permits children ages 11 through 16 to work under certain conditions, including with parental consent and if the child works only with members of the family. Children as young as age 11 are permitted to perform light work, without enumerating what forms of labor may be classified as “light work” and without establishing a limit on the number of hours a child under age 16 may be made to work. Papua New Guinea's existing law on the minimum age for hazardous work under Article 104 of Papua New Guinea’s Employment Act sets the minimum age for engaging in hazardous labor activities at age 16 rather than age 18. Additionally, the law does not list hazardous occupations that are prohibited for children. The National Education Plan does not include an age up to which education is compulsory, and, although the Government Tuition Fee Subsidy Policy was expanded in 2023, the right to free education is not guaranteed by law.

Papua New Guinea also does not have laws that prohibit using, procuring, or offering a child for illicit activities, including for the production and trafficking of drugs. The law does not sufficiently protect children from commercial sexual exploitation because the actions of using, procuring, and offering a child for pornographic performances are not criminally prohibited. Lastly, the prohibitions against child trafficking are insufficient because they require that threats, the use of force, or coercion be established for the crime of child trafficking.

In 2023, 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, prosecutions were initiated, or perpetrators were convicted.

For information about USDOL’s projects to address child labor around the world, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/ilab-project-page-search
† Program is funded by the Government of Papua New Guinea.

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