Labor Secretary calls for end to child labor

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, May 4 (PIA) - - Secretary Rosalina Dimapilis-Baldoz of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has called on all concerned agencies, local government units  and other stakeholders to help put an end  to all forms of child labor in the country.

Baldoz said the department has already implemented the Child Labor-Free Barangays and Children Labor-Free Enterprise thrusts to minimize and contain the social problem.

Under the programs,  she said enumerators conduct survey on the prevalence of child labor.

The Secretary likewise urged companies to work hand in hand with the labor department  to ensure that their entities  be declared as child- labor free.

In the last two years, Baldoz said the Philippines has been one of the top 10 countries with significant programs to eliminate worst forms of child labor.

She cited the presence of the HELP ME project, (Health, Education, Livelihood, Promotion and Protection, Monitoring, Evaluation) which involves national government  agencies to curb child labor in the country.

“In the region, poverty pushes children to engage in child labor, majority of them work in the sugarcane plantations and farms," Baldoz said.

Recently, DOLE has awarded financial assistance for the fabrication of negocarts to parents of child laborers in Benito Soliven, Isabela plus seed capital to start a small trading business. (ALM/GVB/PIA-2 Isabela)