Observed instances of child labor should be reported to our office, Supervising Labor and Employment Officer Michelle Agbuya of the City Public Employment Services Office (PESO) advised Punong Barangays (PBs) during their monthly meeting, March 28, at the Baguio Cultural and Convention Center.
As defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO), child labor is “work taken on by children and adolescents that is harmful for their well-being. These include work that deprives children of their childhood, potential and dignity. Not classified as child labor are those that help with their growth and welfare. Child work to be classified child labor mainly varies upon the child’s age, type, hours and condition under which the children perform the work.”
As to the allowed working age, Article 139 of the Philippine Labor Code (Presidential Decree 442, enacted on May 1, 1974), “No child below fifteen (15) years of age shall be employed except when directly under the sole responsibility of his parents or guardian and employment does not in any way interfere with schooling.”
As reported, in 2023, in the Philippines, 1.09M working children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 show a decrease of 383,000 from the 1.48M of the same circumstances, in 2022. The highest incidence of child labor is in the agriculture sector, it was also known, followed by services, and industry.
Implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9231, provides for the elimination of the worst form of child labor and affording stronger protection of the working child.
Agbuya further informed the PBs that reports of child labor shall be endorsed to the Department of Labor for proper procedures. ** jgfianza
