DoLE conducts advocacy orientations on child labor

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) conducted a series of advocacy orientations on child labor based on Republic Acts (RA) 9231 or the law on the elimination of the worst forms of child labor, and RA 9208 or the law on anti-trafficking in persons, to help improve the plight of children engaged in hazardous and exploitative work.

DoLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that the advocacy was aimed at preventing companies from employing children and putting a stop to human trafficking.

“Child labor is a difficult program. Parents themselves usually are the ones putting their children to work. Child labor has been a predicament all over the country for many years. However, government has increased its efforts and consistently implemented laws for worker rights,” said Baldoz.

She added that the government has intensified its campaign against child labor and trafficking through a series of advocacy orientation, social dialogue, film showing and counseling caravans in different regions.

The secretary explained that this is part of the DoLE-wide advocacy to reduce the increasing number of child workers and cases of trafficking involving women and children.

“Children who work at a young age are forced to forego their education and many other youthful activities in order to contribute to the needs of the family. Because of their ignorance and vulnerability to abuse, these children fall easy prey to exploitative child labor and hazardous types of work,” Baldoz said.

The DoLE regional offices have invited officials from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and other government agencies as resource persons to the advocacy orientations. Participants included representatives from the academe, recruitment agencies, child laborers, and their parents, who were apprised on the salient features of RA 9231 and RA 9208.

Other topics that were discussed during the advocacy sessions, include child pornography and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

DoLE leads the program implementation on the improvement of conditions of work of children, banning of child employment in hazardous occupation, and enforcement of law, standards and policies under the mandate of the department. –Mina Diaz, Daily Tribune