UN agency urges creation of child labor laws by LGUs

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The United Nation’s International Labor Organization (ILO) is urging local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas to create local laws that address child labor.

“There is a serious need for local legislation,” said Philippine program officer of ILO, Jodie Mitra regarding the poor implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9231 or the Act Providing for Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor.

A 2010 labor survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) shows there are 2.4 million child laborers in the country. A decade ago, child laborers in the country numbered 4 million.

While Mitra noted a decrease on child labor incidence in the last 10 years, steps taken are hindered by lack of local legislation enforcing RA 9231.

Mitra emphasized the importance of sustainability in addressing the exploitation of children.

However, she expressed disappointment that only the provinces of Bukidnon, Masbate, Northern Samar, and Quezon have taken steps to craft and pass local child labor laws.

In 2001, there were 327,000 child laborers in Western Visayas with Negros Occidental registering the biggest number with 110,000, followed by Iloilo with 109,000. These child laborers are engaged in sugar industry, farming, fishing, mining, and fireworks production. Some were underaged prostitutes or domestic helpers.

Mitra encourages legislators in the province, city, and municipalities to craft their own laws to at least mitigate child exploitation.

She also emphasized the need to activate the Barangay Council for Protection of Children to address pertinent problems in the grassroots level.

The ILO’s Philippine program officer was one of the resource persons at the seminar-workshop on child protection held here last August 5. The seminar-workshop was spearheaded by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) with the cooperation of the Iloilo Press Club and community newspaper The Daily Guardian. –TARA YAP, Manila Bulletin