Intensified campaign leads to rescue of 5,000 child laborers

Around 5,000 children were rescued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) from harsh working conditions in its intensified anti-child labor campaign.

The rescued children were from 53 barangays, which were declared as child-labor free by DOLE’s Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) through its H.E.L.P. M.E. program.

The H.E.L.P. M.E. program, or Health, Education, Livelihood, and Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution; and Monitoring and Evaluation aims to reduce the dependence of families on child-laborers by providing them with the necessary government assistance.

BWSC director Ahma Charisma Sa-tumba said they expect more areas to become child labor-free in the coming months as more barangays improved measures to prevent children in their areas from working.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has appealed to school teachers to help DOLE in implementing the H.E.L.P.M.E. program by reporting possible child-labor victims who are attending their class.

“School officials and teachers are the ones with direct contact with children so they are the best persons to know if child labor exists in the communities where they work and live,” Baldoz said.

She said they could identify child laborers through physical indicators like tired and unhealthy appearance or by behavioral signs like habitual absences or tardiness.

“If the teacher has determined that a student is a victim of child labor, he or she should inform the local government unit, or the nearest DOLE Regional Office, so the necessary assistance can be given to the child.” Baldoz said.

The H.E.L.P.M.E. program is part of DOLE attempt to rescue around 890,000 children from the hazardous work by 2016.

Meantime, in mid-town Manila, two minors were likewise rescued from human trafficking following an entrapment operation in Ermita on Sunday. (with a report from Jenny F. Manongdo)