Child labor rampant in Manila

As many as 5 million Filipino children aged 5 to 17 are forced to work under dangerous conditions.

A non-government organization released the figure Friday to illustrate the point that child labor is rampant in the Philippines despite the law banning the use of minors as workers.

The End Child prostitution, Child pornograph and trafficking of children for sexual purposes (ECPAT)- Philippines said that there is a need to strengthen efforts in addressing the surge in number of dropouts and child laborers in the community.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said member-states of the International Labor Org. including the Philippines have set the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labor by 2016, adding that his department has set in place programs aimed toward the prevention of child labor and elimination of its worst forms.

Roque said that anti-child labor programs of the are intended to remove children found engaging in hazardous occupations.

A 2009 Survey by the National Statistics Office showed that there were 5 million working children aged 5 to 17 in the Philippines

The ECPAT said that despite the presence of the anti-child labor law, Republic Act 9231, a conviction has yet to be made.

Child labor as defined by R.A. 9231 as refers to the use of children in slavery including armed conflict, prostitution, pornography, illegal activities including production and trafficking of drugs, and work that is hazardous to the health, safety, or morals of children.

Groups advocating child rights said that implementation of the law is hampered by the difficulty of monitoring and lack of efforts from the local levels.

Lawyer Anjanette Saguisag of the United Nations Children’s Fund said there is a need to review policies in labor inspection.

“Child labor is not consciously monitored by labor inspectors,” Saguisag said. Vito Barcelo, Manila Standard Today