Kerr spatial solitons are observed in slab chalcogenide waveguides at near-IR wavelengths. Waveguides are realized either by electron-beam evaporation or rf sputtering of a Ge-Sb-S compound deposited on oxidized silicon wafer. The Kerr coefficient of the thin film is evaluated to be 5 x 10(-18) m(2)/W from the experimentally required soliton power at 1.5 mum. Limitations due to material photosensitivity are revealed.