The Philippines ushers in the New Year with programmes to intensify
its fight against child labour.“Makiisa para sa 1 milyong batang Malaya”
(One with the children to end child labour) today featured the launch of
three major initiatives against child labour. These initiatives include a first
comprehensive project on child labour with set up of helpdesks, a new
project on child labour in gold mining, and a new child labour module in the
conditional cash transfer programme.
its fight against child labour.“Makiisa para sa 1 milyong batang Malaya”
(One with the children to end child labour) today featured the launch of
three major initiatives against child labour. These initiatives include a first
comprehensive project on child labour with set up of helpdesks, a new
project on child labour in gold mining, and a new child labour module in the
conditional cash transfer programme.
The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), chaired by the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department
of Education (DepEd), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
the International Labour Organization (ILO) and BanToxics jointly launched the programmes.
The launch was held on 12 January 2017 in Quezon City.
Employment (DOLE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department
of Education (DepEd), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
the International Labour Organization (ILO) and BanToxics jointly launched the programmes.
The launch was held on 12 January 2017 in Quezon City.
According to the 2011 Survey on Children, there are 2.1 million Filipino children in child labour.
Findings of the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) in 2015 revealed that the
Philippines made significant advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.
Despite progress, however, enforcement of child labour laws remains a challenge.
Findings of the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) in 2015 revealed that the
Philippines made significant advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.
Despite progress, however, enforcement of child labour laws remains a challenge.
“Child labour is complex and deeply rooted in poverty. Children suffer and risk their health or
even their lives to work for their family’s survival. Ending child labour requires strong commitment
and collective effort,” said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines who
also managed projects to address child labour in Africa and Asia.
even their lives to work for their family’s survival. Ending child labour requires strong commitment
and collective effort,” said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines who
also managed projects to address child labour in Africa and Asia.
The Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Developmental Interventions
(SHIELD) is the first comprehensive project of DSWD on child labour. It will strengthen efforts at the local
level, which will include helpdesks and a local registry on child labour for referral and convergence of
support services. SHIELD will focus on areas with high incidence of child labour as priority to create an
impact and to make services more accessible to children and their families. Interventions will be based on
data from the Child Labor Local Registry.
(SHIELD) is the first comprehensive project of DSWD on child labour. It will strengthen efforts at the local
level, which will include helpdesks and a local registry on child labour for referral and convergence of
support services. SHIELD will focus on areas with high incidence of child labour as priority to create an
impact and to make services more accessible to children and their families. Interventions will be based on
data from the Child Labor Local Registry.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the conditional cash transfer programme of the DSWD
will also launch and integrate a new module on child labour. The 4Ps has a reach of about 4 million
households from the poorest of the poor, who are often forced to involve their children in work to augment
the family income. The 4Ps contributes to putting children in schools through its conditionality on education.
Being in school, however, is not an assurance that children will not engage in child labour. The child labour
module will be part of the Family Development Sessions to raise awareness on child labour and the role of
the family to prevent or to end child labour, especially its worst forms.
will also launch and integrate a new module on child labour. The 4Ps has a reach of about 4 million
households from the poorest of the poor, who are often forced to involve their children in work to augment
the family income. The 4Ps contributes to putting children in schools through its conditionality on education.
Being in school, however, is not an assurance that children will not engage in child labour. The child labour
module will be part of the Family Development Sessions to raise awareness on child labour and the role of
the family to prevent or to end child labour, especially its worst forms.
CARING Gold is a new project implemented by the ILO and BanToxics together with DOLE and DENR and funded
by the USDOL. Child labour in mining is considered as a worst form of child labour but remains unregulated and
unmonitored. The project will address child labour in mining at its root cause, which is poverty and vulnerability.
Interventions will also include improving working conditions and providing support to establish models for operation
that are legal and viable as well as compliant with labour, environmental and health standards.
by the USDOL. Child labour in mining is considered as a worst form of child labour but remains unregulated and
unmonitored. The project will address child labour in mining at its root cause, which is poverty and vulnerability.
Interventions will also include improving working conditions and providing support to establish models for operation
that are legal and viable as well as compliant with labour, environmental and health standards.
These initiatives overall support the Philippine Program against Child Labor 2017-2022 to withdraw one million
children from child labour and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which calls to end child labour in all
its forms by 2025.
children from child labour and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which calls to end child labour in all
its forms by 2025.
For immediate release
Wednesday, 12 January 2017
Wednesday, 12 January 2017
Contact details:
SHIELD Project focal point:
Ms Rebecca B. Ballesteros, SWO III/ SHIELD Focal Person, DSWD Social Technology Bureau
Tel. No.: +63 2 931 8101 to 07, ext 324/ 326; Email: rbballesteros@e-dswd.net
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Module media contact:
Ms Marie Grace O. Ponce, Public Relations Officer IV, Social Marketing Division
Email: moponce@dswd.gov.ph; Mobile: +63 939 939 6149
CARING Gold Project
International Labour Organization (ILO):
Ms Minette Rimando, Communications Officer
Tel. No.: +63 2 580 9900; 580 9901-2; Fax: +63 2 856 7597
Email: rimando@ilo.org; Mobile: +63 917 535 3162
BAN Toxics media contact:
Mr Lean Lava, Communications Officer
Tel. No.: +63 2 791 8691; Fax: +63 2 239 4451
Email: lean.lava@bantoxics,org; Mobile: +63 917 562 0994
