Guidelines to be developed for childcare services in Fiji

Guidelines that will help put in place basic minimum standards for childcare services in Fiji are expected to be completed in about 6 months.

The International Finance Corporation and the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation will work together to develop those guidelines.

Minister for Children Mereseini Vuniwaqa says they also hope to come up with a licensing system to ensure that those who look after children are licensed to do so and have the required capacity to do so.

She says the main priority should always be the best interest of the child.

A study by the International Finance Corporation in 2019 found that 43% of the workforce have pre-school aged children but only eight percent use childcare services.

The research found that each year, employers were losing an average of 12.7 work days per employee due to parents juggling responsibilities at work and home, costing businesses an average of $1,000 per employee.