The government in Papua New Guinea has launched an action plan to eliminate child labour.
About a fifth of PNG children aged 10 to 14 years, and almost a third of children aged 14 or over are believed to be economically active.
Studies have found child labour, including its worst forms - child trafficking, child prostitution, the use of children for the production and sale of drugs, and hazardous child labour - are extensive in PNG.
Poverty, inadequate education and health care, urbanisation and social beliefs are factors contributing to child labour, along with increasing demand for the products children are selling.
The new plan outlines strategies to tackle child labour including mainstreaming the issue into government policy and legislation, strengthening monitoring, and implementing national awareness programmes.
