MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano called on the Aquino administration to implement stronger interventions in addressing child labor in the country, including stiffer penalties for private companies that employ minors in hazardous working conditions.
He will make the same call at the global commemoration of World Day Against Child Labor on June 12, 2012.
He said the Philippines is one of the signatories to the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention on the Elimination of Child Labor but there are not enough measures to address the problem as there are 4 million child workers, with 2.4 million of them in the worst forms of child labor according to 2001 figures from the National Statistics Office.
ILO estimates that 215 million children worldwide are involved in child labor, with half of them victims of slavery, sale and trafficking, prostitution, and pornography. Worst forms of child labor also include the recruitment of children for use in armed conflict and illicit activities such as drug trafficking.
“Children that are forced to work under hazardous conditions suffer long term scars not only physically but more psychological and moral damages,” said Cayetano.
He said the state has an obligation to send children to school and prevent them from being deprived of education and training that can help lift them out of cyclical poverty.
The ILO Minimum Age Convention requires states to specify a minimum age for admission to employment equivalent to not less than the age of finishing compulsory education, or in the Philippines not less than 15 years.
The senator pointed out that local government units particularly barangay leaders play a critical role in addressing child labor in their communities.
“Local leaders should increase awareness on the presence of manufacturing, mining, and other private companies in their communities that engage in illegal child labor practices and immediately ban their operations,” he said. –Karl John Reyes, InterAksyon.com
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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