Samoa's umbrella organisation for non-government groups, SUNGO, is concerned that a breakdown in family values has led to a rise in child vendors operating on the streets, especially in Apia.
SUNGO's president, Vaasilifiti Moelagi Jackson, says often families in town are more removed from the traditional values found in a village setting.
She says money is often tight and financial pressures can force families to seek income where they can, even if means exploiting their children.
The NGO, Mapusaga O Aiga, which helps abused women and children, wants a law change to stop the child vendors and Vaasilifiti backs this.
"Because the families are now being broken up, diversified, because of the individualism, and especially those who are moving into town so that's where the break-up of families are and this is where child vendors are starting to increase. So therefore I think its about time that we have such a law not only to control but to protect the children."
Vaasilifiti Moelagi Jackson of SUNGO.
