GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is optimistic about cutting the prevalence of child labor by 100 percent in the Soccsksargen region by 2028.
DOLE Regional Director Joel Gonzales vowed to take the necessary steps to curb child labor, stressing the government's firm stance against child labor, particularly children working in hazardous occupations.
“Ayaw na ayaw ng estado natin na may mga batang manggagawa, lalo na nagtatrabaho sa hazardous occupation. Tulad halimbawa yung nasa farm, magdadala ng mga troso, magdadala ng mga saging pababa sa bayan, ‘yung mga ganon so hazardous po yun,” he said.
[Our state does not want child workers, especially those engaged in hazardous occupations. The government will not tolerate children, for example, those working on the farm, carrying logs, carrying loads of bananas down to the town, and the like.]
He underscored that a child has basic rights such as the right to play and to get a proper education, expressing the state's commitment to ensuring these rights are upheld.
Gonzales reiterated the country’s commitment to combating child labor through DOLE and its affiliates, while also emphasizing that child labor is a global issue.
He then cited the government’s actions to reduce child labor as he outlined DOLE’s key strategies, including providing employment opportunities for parents or guardians, both in the formal and informal sectors, such as livelihood projects, as a means to alleviate poverty and reduce forced labor among children.
Gonzales pointed out that so far, their efforts to remove children from hazardous or unsuitable work environments have been successful.
The official also acknowledged that when at home, minors may help with household duties or light activities, but risky work, such as agricultural labor, is unacceptable.
"Merong siguro ipatrabaho sa bahay, maglinis, o kayang mautusan natin sa tindahan, bibili ng ganito. Siguro kasama sa paglalako ng kaunting mga bagay kung nasa tindahan tayo. Pero po 'yung magtanim sa gitna ng sikat ng araw, magkarga ng kung anu-anong agricultural products, 'yun po ang gusto naming ialis sila," Gonzales clarified.
[Yes, perhaps there are some menial tasks at home that they have to accomplish as part of their duty. Their parents may ask them to do some cleaning or buy or sell stuff from the store, among other things. However, manual labor such as planting under the heat of the sun and loading agricultural products are some of the tasks we want to remove and shield our children from.]
He also assured parents of swift access to livelihood assistance, telling them to propose sustainable projects in accordance with the approved budget.
“Anuman ang proyekto na ‘yan, sabihin ko na lang, huwag lang lumagpas sa P30,000 ibibigay po namin ‘yon, pwede nang panimula po ‘yon. Kung sakaling hog raising yan, sabi ko nga, baka anim o limang biik, plus feeds for four months, wag niyo lang ibenta yung biik na biik pa lang, palakihin niyo naman,” the official conveyed.
[Whatever that project is, just don't exceed P30,000; we will give it; maybe they can start with hog raising as a livelihood, with six or five piglets plus feeds for four months; just don’t sell the piglets that are still piglets; raise them well.]
Gonzales also promised to provide additional support for families who will successfully sustain their livelihood projects.
