DOLE: Number of working children declining

As proof of the country’s improving economy, fewer Filipino children are opting to work and help their families, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Labor Undersecretary Arturo Sodusta said the number of working children or those belonging to five to 14 years age bracket has dropped by almost 25 percent this year.

"The data indicate that we are successful in our campaign and if this trend will continue, we will be able to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the country," he said.

The DOLE has recorded in January this year, a total of 670,000 working children nationwide or 110,000 less than the recorded 880,000 working children during the same period in 2005, he added.

In 2001, there were four million Filipino working children and 60 percent or 2.4 million of them were engaged in hazardous work such as mining, quarrying and sex trade, Sodusta said.

Cynthia Cruz, DOLE-Bureau of Women and Young Workers (BWYW) director, said child labor is one of the major problems caused by widespread poverty in the country.

"Child labor is part of the survival strategy of poor families but the rights of young children cannot be postponed so we have to act and address the problem," she said.

"While we may look hopeless in our efforts, the drop in the number of working children shows that we are actually doing good," she said. — Mayen Jaymalin