Child labor free project gains ground

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is pleased with the positive response of the different local communities in the Child-Labor Free Barangay Project.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, in her recent visit to the Summer Capital, shared her satisfaction in the cooperation at the community level in as far as protecting the children against hazards and negative effects of labor to children is concerned.

“We are happy that we were able to initiate and even institutionalize the reforms (child-labor free project),” she said stressing the child-labor free guidelines or indicators are urgent reforms social reforms.

She added, at least establishments and barangays now realize the positive effects of being child-labor free not only for the sake of compliance to the guidelines but as well as in contributing to the development of human resource and protecting children’s potentials.

Baldoz emphasized Dole is strengthening its partnership with the Department of Education, Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units in ensuring children are sent to school instead of being sent to a hazardous working environment.

Through the different convergence programs of these departments, Baldoz said the health and welfare of Filipino children are better ensured.

Baldoz emphasized they are especially looking into poverty stricken and rural areas because those are the ones where child-labor is usually prevalent.

In such areas they continue to instill their advocacy dubbed as “HELP ME” which stands for health, education, livelihood and prosecution monitoring and evaluation to make sure stakeholders particularly parents are educated about the consequences of child labor.

She shared this campaign has been significantly helpful and effective that the Philippines was consecutively recognized as one of the top ten countries with “significant improvement in handling the issue of child labor” based on the Global Child Labor report.

The Secretary noted this program will continue hoping this will not only lead to declaration of child-labor free barangays but a child-labor free Philippines.

Under the DOLE’s Child-Labor Free Project, a barangay will be declared child-labor free and will receive incentives from the department once they have met the following indicators: “no child below 15 year old works unless in circumstances provided under the Republic Act 9231 or the Child Labor Law; no child aged 15-17 years old is engaged in the worst forms of child labor; children of school age are attending formal school or alternative learning sessions; parents have economic activity to support the needs of their children; there is a presence of a functional Barangay Council for the Protection of Children; and there is an implementation of local ordinances or resolutions to address child labor concerns”.

During the first semester last year, 22 barangays across the Cordillera were declared child labor free by Dole for their compliance of the said guidelines. –Giovani Joy Fontanilla, Sun Star