Labor department heads anti-child labor program review

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Central Luzon led the assessment of the national program against child labor and the formulation of the program’s action plan.

In a statement, the labor agency said it led the October 26-30 assessment of the accomplishments of the Philippines’ Program against Child Labor (PPACL) from 2008 to 2010.

PPACL is a convergence of the efforts of the government, the private sector (employers’ groups and workers’ organizations), non-government organizations and international development institutions, whose aim is a Philippines free from child labor.

During the assessment workshop, Dole also formulated more programs and actions for PPACL. The labor agency was assisted by the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) and the International Labor Organization-International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC).

Among the methods used to assess the anti-child labor program were key informant interviews and focus group discussions among government, civil society organizations and beneficiaries.

During the four-day workshop, the assessment was presented and validated. Stakeholders came up with plans for 2011-2015 within the PPACL framework.

Participating in the workshop were child labor program coordinators from the 16 Dole regional offices, Dole provincial heads of four ILO-IPEC target areas (Quezon, Masbate, Northern Samar and Bukidnon) and other labor agency staff. (Charlene Cayabyab, Sun Star)