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
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
