As the number of child laborers in the country continues to increase, the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, Rep. Fidel Nograles urges the government to have a concrete plan and to exhaust more measures in fighting child labor.
According to the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, in the year 2021, the number of child laborers increased even more because of the pandemic.
Around 1.37 million aging 5 to 17 years old are already working as of 2021, and it is far higher than the number of child laborers in 2020 which was 872,333.
The agriculture sector recorded the highest proportion of working children followed by the services sector.
“More and more children are being forced to work since the pandemic. We need to exhaust more measures and enlist more allies so we can protect our children from the dangers of child labor and exploitation,” Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles said.
He added that lawmakers should consider reviewing the existing laws that aim to protect the children’s welfare if it is still enough in establishing a better environment for the children.
Rep. Nograles also emphasized the right of every child to social protection services, quality education, and better economic opportunities that will help them not to engage in livelihood at an early age.
“Ang mga bata, dapat nag-aaral at naglalaro, hindi nagtatrabaho, upang lumaki silang kayang abutin ang rurok ng kanilang potensyal,” he added.
[A child should be studying and playing, not working so that when they grow up they will surely reach their full potential.]
On the other note, International Labour Organization defined child labor as children who are deprived of their childhood, potential, and dignity which can affect their physical and mental development.
