U.S. DOL: PH only Asia-Pacific country, which made significant efforts against worst forms of child labor

The Philippines is the only country in Asia and the Pacific Region, which received an assessment of “significant advancement” for making several tangible efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

This is according to the United States’ Department of Labor [U.S. DOL] study, “2013 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor”, a copy of which has been provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said yesterday.

Baldoz, citing the study, said that the Philippines is the only country in the Asia-Pacific and one of 13—out of 143 countries—assessed by the United States Department of Labor which made significant advancement in efforts to eliminate the forms of child labor in 2013.

“In 2013, we continued to make notable progress in combating the worst forms of child labor, particularly in the area of legislation on trafficking in persons, which, according to the U.S. DOL Report, is of particular concern in the Asia and the Pacific Region,” said Baldoz.

She said that compared with the suggested actions reported in 2012, the Philippines has significantly made advances in all relevant areas covering laws and regulations, coordination and enforcement, policies, and social programs.

“The findings and recommendations in the U.S. DOL study can be an important tool in the prevention and elimination of child labor, especially its worst forms,” she said.

The study identifies places where the worst forms of child labor are prevalent and discusses ways in which governments and organizations around the world can help stop child labor.

The study is divided into five parts. Part 1 describes the method for compiling the report and a description of the features of each country profile, including country assessments to provide the U.S. President with clear indications of the US Secretary of Labor’s findings on whether each beneficiary country has advanced efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

Part 2 reviews highlights and gaps in government actions to address the worst forms of child labor as described in the particular year report, with emphasis on progress by region. Part 3 provides an overview of the U.S. experience on child labor. Part 4 contains reference material for data on child labor and education that appear in the report and a glossary of terms used. Part 5 covers the individual profiles of the TDA beneficiary countries.

Based on the study, there are about 168 million children as young as five years old working worldwide, and 5.8 million of these children are in the worst form of child labor.

Baldoz particularly noted that the study cited the efforts of the administration of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III in reducing and eliminating exploitive child labor, identifying the implementation of the “Convergence Program Against Child Labor, 2013-206” that assists local governments in creating child-labor free communities.

It also cited President’s Aquino III issuance of Executive Order No. 138, entitled, “Adopting the Comprehensive Program Framework for Children in Armed Conflict, Strengthening the Council for the Welfare of Children and for other Purposes”.

The executive order formalized the establishment of a Monitoring, Reporting, and Response System for Grave Child Rights Violations in Situations of Armed Conflict (MRRS-GCRVSAC).

Baldoz said that during the reporting period, the DOLE worked with stakeholders to update the country’s hazardous work list for children, through the issuance of Department Order No. 4. In conjunction with the update, the Institute of Labor Studies and the Occupational Safety and Health Center conducted in-depth studies in hazardous work in agriculture, specific to child labor.

“The result of this study will be used to inform future interventions to reduce child labor in agriculture in the Philippines,” Baldoz said.

She recalled that in February 2013, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 was signed into law as Republic Act No. 10364. The Act amends Republic Act No. 9208 of 2003 to establish a permanent Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking with a secretariat to carry out the mandate; create a database on trafficking cases; expand provisions to protect victims of trafficking; and establish stronger penalties for violations, including those against children.

The study also cited the efforts of the government in establishing institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor, including its worst forms.

In January 2013, the President approved the hiring of 372 more Labor Law Compliance Officers to be added to the existing 237 officers employed by the DOLE’s Bureau of Working Conditions.

As of October 2014, a total of 282 new officers had been hired. The LLCOs are authorized to monitor and enforce the Labor Code of the Philippines, including child labor laws. The DOLE regularly includes a child labor component in its training for labor inspectors.

Baldoz also said the DOLE has strengthened the Sagip Batang Manggagawa (SBM) Quick Response Team which in 2013 conducted 11 rescue operations in eight regions that led to the rescue of 37 child laborers. These child laborers were referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for rehabilitation and reintegration.

The U.S. DOL study also stated that during the reporting period, the National Child Labor Committee and its subcommittees met several times to plan and develop the NCLC Strategic Plan, 2014–2016. The NCLC had supported the national celebration of World Day Against Child Labor in Manila with DOLE and ILO-IPEC. DOLE also conducted training for the NCLC sub-committee members on the use of the Child Labor Knowledge Sharing System (CLKSS), an information technology tool used by child labor program coordinators to serve as an anti-child labor data hub.

The Aquino administration also established policies related to child labor, including its worst forms. These includes the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan, 2011-2016; Philippine Labor and Employment Plan, 2011-2016; National Strategic Framework Development Plan for for Children, or Child 21 (2000-2025); Philippine Program Against Child Labor Strategic Framework; and the National Strategic Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons, 2012-2016.

“These policies are aimed at strengthening mechanisms for the prevention, eradication, and monitoring of child protection laws, developing strategies to respond to child trafficking and pornography, and implementing an enhanced program for preventing children from being engaged in armed conflict and other worst forms of child labor.”

The study also mentioned that in 2013, the Philippines funded and participated in programs such as the Conditional Cash Transfer; Alternative Learning System; Social Amelioration Program; DOLE Child labor Prevention and Elimination Program; Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons; Special Social Services for Children in Armed Conflict; National Plan of Action for Children; Towards a Child Labor-Free Philippines Supporting the Philippine Program Against Child Labor In Building on Past Gains and Addressing Challenges; Philippines ABK3 LEAP-Livelihoods, Education, Advocacy, and Protection to Reduce Child Labor in Sugarcane; Global Action Program on Child Labor Issues; and Country Level Engagement and Assistance to Reduce (CLEAR) Child Labor.

dole.gov.ph