Youths commemorate World’s Day Against Child Labor

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Davao Teen Center (DTC) commemorates the month of June as World’s Day against Child Labor Month and express its condemnation on the unstoppable increase of victims of child labor as it gives harm not only to child’s reproductive health but health in general, despite of the existence of a comprehensive law that protect their rights.

Jamail Lunar G. Macla, Davao Teen Center Youth Coordinator, expressed his deep sadness as the people in the community celebrates World Day against Child Labor but children who are working in dangerous and unprotected factories and workplace are still in agony and suffering.

“It is very much ironic that our country celebrates this month as World’s Day Against Child Labor but the child laborers didn’t felt that this month is their month of freedom and survival since they are still working just to make the lives of their family well and uplift their quality of life.” Macla said.

Despite of the existence of many laws and ordinances ratified and passed in the international, local and national level, this case is still rampant and visible in the society and what made it worst is that ages of victims of child labor become younger and younger.

“United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Republic Act 7610, Presidential Decree 603 and Davao City Children’s Welfare Code are some of the laws made to protect the child entering to work in dangerous and unsecured workplace and it gives the child the comprehensive right as well as individual and social responsibility to address such issue however, despite of its existence, victims of such reached a total of four (4) million and it is still increasing.” Macla contented.

“These four (4) million victims, wherein there are total of 2.4 Million child laborers exposed in hazardous workplace around the country, sixty (60) percent of which, found in agricultural areas while 36.5 percent of working children don’t go to school, are clear and visible social realities that we must take it seriously not only on the level of propaganda or slogan campaign but actively participating and making concrete solutions on it like joining organizations and making social pressures.” Macla added.

Although, children is everyone’s concern, however, the state, the institution who must be giving awareness to its people as to what will be an appropriate and concrete solution to address the issue, lacks to start the “drum beat” for everyone to take active participation of the campaign and advocacy to create a child and young people-friendly country.

“Solving one’s issue needs awareness of personal responsibility for them to create a social responsibility, however, for one to take part in the said advocacy, there must be a conducive and comprehensive programmatic system that will hasten the process however, the government lacks of this initiative.” Macla said.

“Therefore, it is a big challenge to the community to pressure the government to perform its responsibility to its people and provide quality services and welfare, in order for them, the child laborers, as beneficiaries of this commemoration, will feel that it is indeed their month, a month worth commemorating.” Macla concluded.

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