Coping with Hazards to the Safety
and Health of Filipino Working Children

There are about 85,000 street children in Metro Manila alone.  These child workers do not only risk being run over by motor vehicles but are also prone to psychological degradation, particularly those engaged in mendicancy and prostitution.

Article 139 of the Labor Code provides that “no child below 15 years of age shall be employed, except when he works directly under the sole responsibility of his parents or his guardian, and his employment does not in any way interfere with his schooling.”  Article 140, on the other hand, states that “no employer shall discriminate against any person in respect to terms and conditions of employment on account of his age.”

The Child and Youth Welfare Code (Presidential Decree No. 603) was promulgated to provide guidelines governing the employment of children below 16 years in light work not harmful to children’s safety, health and normal development.

The immediate objective of the child labor program in the country is the banning of 80 percent of child employment in hazardous occupations and the rehabilitation of at least 60 percent of those victimized by the practice.

Another goals I the eradication of the practice of sacrificing children for economic gains and empowering child workers and their families to choose a new course of existence.

The “Breaking Ground for Community Action on Child Labor” is a program which pools the community’s resources together as well as those of government agencies, regional implementers, local government units, people’s and non-government organizations, technical and financial assisting international agencies, the child workers and their respective families.

Concerted activities being operationalized under this program are:  action research; advocacy and social mobilization; community organization and capacity building; provision of basic and alternative services in health education and livelihood, policy and program development; and monitoring ad evaluating policies, strategies and programs.