DAVAO DEL NORTE, Apr. 28 (PIA) - The Department of Labor and Employment is set to wage intensified projects and activities to address child labor.
DOLE Davao del Norte Program facilitator Dave Andrei Villegas revealed a total of 1,037 cases of child laborers profiled in the first quarter of 2022 in the municipalities of Sto Tomas and Carmen.
These profiled child laborers were found in the banana industry most engaged in banana peeling.
Villegas said that based on research, the child labor cases persist especially in the immediate past years due to the economic loses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because of the pandemic dili maiwasan nga naa jud ta mga child laborers. Tungod wala tay face to program ang mga bata naa lang sa balay, ang mga bata ma-exploit jud sila, masugo. Makit-an nila ang kahimtang sa ilang mga ginikanan displaced walay trabaho. (child laborer cannot be avoided. Since we don’t have face-to-face program, the children are usually at home, they can be exploited. They run errands. They’ve known the displacement of their parents who are losing jobs.),” he said.
In line with the thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte to free some one million of the 2.5 million Filipino child laborers from hazardous work situation, DOLE Davao del Norte takes two-pronged approach to address the problem.
Its long term approach is implementing livelihood program in partnership with local government units, partner agencies and corporate or business entities.
Its short term approach is through providing parents with emergency employment through the Tulong Panghanap-buhay sa mga Displaced workers or TUPAD.
DOLE Davao del Norte also intensifies public awareness on child labor making parents aware of their corresponding responsibility to prevent child labor and the possible legal penalties if their children would constantly be profiled as child laborers despite focused government intervention given. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)
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