Reduce child labor by 630,000 by 2022 – DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) aims to reduce cases of child labor in the country by 630,000 by the year 2022, an official of the department said.

Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said that based on the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are at least 2.1 million Filipino children engaged in child labor.

“Ang target ng Philippine government doon sa reduction ng child laborers natin from 2017 up to 2022 is 630,000,” said Maglunsod during the observance of World Day against Child Labor at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila yesterday.

He also added that the government aims to fully eradicate the practice of child labor in the country by the year 2025.

We want all children to be free from abusive jobs, to be free from opportunists, and be able to study and play, he said in Tagalog.

Maglunsod emphasized the responsibility of the adults to support the children attain their dreams by sending them to school.

“Hinihikayat ko ang mga bata na nandito ngayon na mag pur- sige mag aral at ipagpatuloy ang mga pangarap sa buhay. Nandito lang kaming nakakatanda para gabayan kayo at suportahan kayo sa mga nais nyong gawin bilang mabubuting mamamayan ng lipunan, (I encourage all the children here to study and follow your dreams. We, elders, are here to guide and support you on what you want to achieve as a good citizen of the society),” Maglunsod told the children who attended the event.

Maglunsod said the labor department is now conducting a profiling of child laborers in the country to provide assistance for them and to their families.

Meanwhile, the DOLE, under its Project Angel Tree, provided bags and school supplies to the children who attended yesterday’s event.