Journal of Social and Political
Sciences
ISSN 2615-3718 (Online)
ISSN 2621-5675 (Print)
Published: 28 March 2022
Attributes of Working Children in the Philippines
Cristina Teresa N. Lim
De La Salle University, Philippines
Download Full-Text Pdf
10.31014/aior.1991.05.01.339
Pages: 106-116
Keywords: Child Labor, Poverty, Philippines
Abstract
It is the right of every child to have a healthy environment, formal education, and a loving family. However, poverty forces a child to work even in dangerous streets. In the Philippines, the Child Protection Law defined children as persons below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition. Despite the existing legislations in the country and with the United Nations declarations promoting the protection of children from exploitation, the problem in the country continues to exist. The paper aims to determine the extent of child labor in the country and describe the conditions of their work. The analysis of this paper made use of statistical data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Descriptive methods of analysis were utilized in analyzing the data. The results of the study showed that the continued pauperization in the countryside, especially in the urban centers brought about by population growth and capitalism, had increased the number of children joining the labor force. Although progress has been made in promoting and protecting the rights of these children in national legislation and policy, many remain unreached, especially children among the poorest families, who contribute significantly to family income. This limited access of children to basic services further put them into the life of drudgery that would impair their development, hence, their future in general.
References
Amat, Z. T. (2010). Not Letting a Single Domino Fall Towards a child Labor-Free Philippines, ILS Discussion Paper Series 10-2010, Institute for Labor Studies.
Chernichovsky, D. (1985). Socioeconomic and demographic aspects of school enrollment and attendance in rural Botswana. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 33(2), 319-332.
Cody, D. (n.d.). Child labor. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://victorianweb.org/history/hist8.html
Del Rosario, R., & Melinda, B. (2000). Child Labor in the Philippines: A Review of Selected Studies and Policy Papers. University of the Philippines.
Department of Labor and Employment (1998). International Labor Standard in the Philippines. A compilation ILO Conventions ratified by the Philippines and Applicable Laws. Manila
Department of Labor and Employment. (2020). Children as collateral from pandemic: Dole intensifies program to save child laborers. DOLE. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.dole.gov.ph/news/children-as-collateral-from-pandemic-dole-intensifies-program-to-save-child-laborers/
International Labor Organization. (n.d.). What is child labour. ILO. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.ilo.org/ipec/facts/lang--en/index.htm
International Labor Office. (1992). World Labor Report Geneva
International Labor Office. (2013). Global estimates and trends of child labour 2000-2012. ILO-IPEC. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@ipec/documents/publication/wcms_221881.pdf
Philippine National Statistics Office, & International Labor Organization. (2011). 2011 Survey on Children 5 to 17 years old. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2011%20Survey%20on%20Children%205-17%20Years%20Old%20%28Final%20Report%29.pdf.
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2012, July 18). The number of working children 5 to 17 years old is estimated at 5.5 million (Preliminary results of the 2011 survey on children). PSA. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20171023221521/http://web0.psa.gov.ph/content/number-working-children-5-17-years-old-estimated-55-million-preliminary-results-2011-survey
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2021, December 15). Working children and child labor situation. PSA. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://psa.gov.ph/content/working-children-and-child-labor-situation
Uy, V. (2012, June 26). Over the past decade, the incidence of child labor in the Philippines. InterAksyon. Retrieved from www.interaksyon.com