The Challenge of Child Labour The Challenge of Child Labour in Asiain Asia

Special Focus on the PhilippinesSpecial Focus on the Philippines

Child labour has become an Child labour has become an important social issue in the important social issue in the international development international development

agendaagenda

This is due toThis is due to::

Greater awareness of the nature, extent and Greater awareness of the nature, extent and consequences of early child workconsequences of early child work

International adherence to the cause of human rights, International adherence to the cause of human rights, including child rights including child rights

Powerful movements by consumers and Powerful movements by consumers and manufacturers linking trade issues with international manufacturers linking trade issues with international labour standardslabour standards

Child work vs. child labourChild work vs. child labour Not all work done by children Not all work done by children

is child labour. Running is child labour. Running errands or helping parents help errands or helping parents help children develop. Such tasks children develop. Such tasks prepare children for adulthood prepare children for adulthood and is a way of acquiring skills and is a way of acquiring skills from one generation to the next.from one generation to the next.

Exploitative child work Exploitative child work is ...is ...

Hazardous, dangerous, under socially Hazardous, dangerous, under socially unjust conditionsunjust conditions

Harmful to the child’s health Harmful to the child’s health Impairs the physical, mental and Impairs the physical, mental and

emotional development emotional development Infringes the child’s human rightsInfringes the child’s human rights Separates children from their familiesSeparates children from their families

Causes of child labour: Causes of child labour: supply factorssupply factors

Poverty is the main push factor. Other factors Poverty is the main push factor. Other factors are:are:

Lack of educational facilities or poor quality of Lack of educational facilities or poor quality of educationeducation

Disrupted family patternsDisrupted family patterns Entrenched social and cultural attitudes Entrenched social and cultural attitudes Demographic factorsDemographic factors

Causes of child labour: Causes of child labour: demand factorsdemand factors

Children are docile and compliant workers Children are docile and compliant workers and in most cases cost less;and in most cases cost less;

Children can be hired, dismissed and re-Children can be hired, dismissed and re-hired easily. hired easily.

Misplaced perception of the necessity of Misplaced perception of the necessity of children in certain production tasks children in certain production tasks

Global estimate of child Global estimate of child labourlabour

A conservative A conservative estimate of the ILO estimate of the ILO concludes that there concludes that there are about 250 million are about 250 million working children working children world-wide.world-wide.

Nearly half work full-Nearly half work full-time.time.

Child labour by regionChild labour by region

AfricaAmericaEuropeAsia

Asia has most Asia has most of the child of the child workers (61%) workers (61%) while Africa has while Africa has the highest the highest incidence at incidence at 40%40%

Asia (61%)

Africa (32%)

Child labour in AsiaChild labour in Asia

Asia has shown dramatic economic Asia has shown dramatic economic performance; yet, child labour remains a performance; yet, child labour remains a serious problem;serious problem;

Also, extreme forms of child labour Also, extreme forms of child labour (bonded child labour, child prostitution, (bonded child labour, child prostitution, and the traffic of children) exist in the and the traffic of children) exist in the region. region.

Profile of the working Profile of the working children in Asiachildren in Asia

More likely to work in rural than urban More likely to work in rural than urban areas;areas;

Majority found in small production units, Majority found in small production units, few are found in the modern sector;few are found in the modern sector;

About equal number of working boys and About equal number of working boys and girlsgirls

Economic growth by itself is Economic growth by itself is not a cure-all ...not a cure-all ...

Disparities across regions and sectors Disparities across regions and sectors (rural-urban migration, widening of the (rural-urban migration, widening of the income inequalities, increased demand in income inequalities, increased demand in certain economic sectors..)certain economic sectors..)

Intensity of child labour untilization;Intensity of child labour untilization;

Structural changes in child Structural changes in child labour seen in SEAlabour seen in SEA

Urbanization of child labourUrbanization of child labour Structural shift from primary to secondary Structural shift from primary to secondary

and tertiary sectorsand tertiary sectors Proportion of wage child labour has Proportion of wage child labour has

increased, unpaid family work has declinedincreased, unpaid family work has declined

The International Labour The International Labour OrganizationOrganization

ILO was formed in 1919 as part of the ILO was formed in 1919 as part of the League of Nations. The organization League of Nations. The organization precedes the United Nations by twenty precedes the United Nations by twenty five years.five years.

ILO’s ObjectivesILO’s Objectives

Promotion of social justicePromotion of social justice Improvement of living and working Improvement of living and working

conditionsconditions

ILO’s Core MandatesILO’s Core Mandates

International Standard Setting International Standard Setting through through Conventions and RecommendationsConventions and Recommendations

Technical Advisory Services Technical Advisory Services through through multi-disciplinary teamsmulti-disciplinary teams

Technical cooperation Technical cooperation through assistance through assistance programmes for its tripartite partnersprogrammes for its tripartite partners

The StructureThe Structure

ILO works through a ILO works through a Tri-partite Tri-partite Structure Structure of government, workers’ of government, workers’ and employers’ organizations. and employers’ organizations.

The International Programme The International Programme on the Elimination of Child on the Elimination of Child

LabourLabour

Started in 1992 with 6 Started in 1992 with 6 participating countries, IPEC is participating countries, IPEC is now operational in 31 countries. now operational in 31 countries.

It has become one of ILO’s It has become one of ILO’s largest technical cooperation largest technical cooperation

programmes programmes

IPEC: A global movementIPEC: A global movement 1992: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Thailand, 1992: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Thailand,

TurkeyTurkey 1994: Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, 1994: Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines,

TanzaniaTanzania 1996/97: Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Cambodia, 1996/97: Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Cambodia,

Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Senegal and Sri LankaVenezuela, Senegal and Sri Lanka

The aims of IPECThe aims of IPEC

The progressive elimination of The progressive elimination of child labour by:child labour by:

creating a world-wide movement creating a world-wide movement strengthening national capacitiesstrengthening national capacities

IPEC’s IPEC’s priority target groupspriority target groups

Children working Children working under forced labour under forced labour conditionsconditions

Children in hazardous Children in hazardous working conditionsworking conditions

Very young childrenVery young children Working girlsWorking girls

IPEC’s PrincipleIPEC’s Principle

Child labour is a Child labour is a nationalnational responsibility. It is therefore responsibility. It is therefore first and foremost the first and foremost the responsibility of national responsibility of national governments and civil society.governments and civil society.

IPEC in the PhilippinesIPEC in the Philippines

ILO and the Philippine government ILO and the Philippine government signed a Memorandum of signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 1994. This Understanding in June 1994. This agreement has been extended till Year agreement has been extended till Year 20012001. .

The Working Children of the The Working Children of the Philippines Philippines

3.6 million Filipino children between the 3.6 million Filipino children between the ages of 5-17 work. This is 15.9% of the ages of 5-17 work. This is 15.9% of the child population, or put more simply, one child population, or put more simply, one out of six children are economically out of six children are economically active.active.

Age profileAge profile

216,000 between the 216,000 between the ages of 5-9;ages of 5-9;

1.6 million between 1.6 million between the ages of 10-14; the ages of 10-14;

1.8 million are 1.8 million are between the ages of between the ages of 15-1715-17

0 500000 1E+06 2E+06 2E+06

5 - 9Years

10 -14Years

15 - 17Years

Socio-demographic profileSocio-demographic profile

More rural than More rural than urban: urban: 11.5% of all urban 11.5% of all urban children; 20.7% of children; 20.7% of all rural childrenall rural children

More boys than girlsMore boys than girls 11.7% of all girls 11.7% of all girls work; 20.8% of the work; 20.8% of the boysboys

Urban Rural0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Urban Rural

The regional profileThe regional profile

Regions 4, 6, 11 Regions 4, 6, 11 have the highest have the highest numbers of numbers of working children; working children;

Regions 2, 12 and Regions 2, 12 and 11 have the 11 have the highest incidence.highest incidence.

WorkplacesWorkplaces 63.2% in farms63.2% in farms 17.5% in own homes17.5% in own homes 9.8% in their 9.8% in their

employer’s or another employer’s or another person’s householdperson’s household

7.7% in the market 7.7% in the market places and the streetsplaces and the streets

2.2% in mines and 2.2% in mines and quarriesquarries

Exposure to HazardsExposure to Hazards

2.2 million children or 2.2 million children or 60% are in hazardous 60% are in hazardous work situations, work situations, consisting of physical consisting of physical difficulties and difficulties and chemical exposures.chemical exposures.

30% are in permanent 30% are in permanent workwork

80% experience work related 80% experience work related difficultiesdifficulties

exhaustion (63.3%)exhaustion (63.3%) stress (55%), physical stress (55%), physical

burden (47%) burden (47%) boredom (52%)boredom (52%) 8% have no day off8% have no day off 17% consider their 17% consider their

work as risky work as risky &dangerous.&dangerous.

63.3

55

47

52

8

17

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

exhaustion

stress

physical b.

boredom

no day of f

risky

%

Suffer injuries and illnesses Suffer injuries and illnesses from workfrom work

24% or 869,199 24% or 869,199 working children have working children have experienced at least experienced at least one work-related one work-related injury or illness. injury or illness. These range from cuts These range from cuts and wounds, abrasions and wounds, abrasions to illness requiring to illness requiring hospital care. hospital care.

Studying?Studying?

70% of working children combine 70% of working children combine school and work. 600,000 no longer school and work. 600,000 no longer attend school.attend school.

Those who continue school face Those who continue school face many difficulties:many difficulties:– low grades (41.2%)low grades (41.2%)– absenteeism (25.3%), tardiness (26%)absenteeism (25.3%), tardiness (26%)

Many tend to be chronic drop-outs. Many tend to be chronic drop-outs.

Live and work away Live and work away from homefrom home

Of 409,849 children are living away Of 409,849 children are living away from home, 75% work.from home, 75% work.

The working children away from home The working children away from home are mostly girls, come from rural are mostly girls, come from rural households and work in urban sectors; a households and work in urban sectors; a large number work in households.large number work in households.

Philippine priority groups of childrenPhilippine priority groups of children

Four (4)Four (4) primary target groups of children:primary target groups of children: victims of traffickingvictims of trafficking children in mining/quarryingchildren in mining/quarrying children in home-based work esp. under children in home-based work esp. under

sub-contracting sub-contracting children in prostitutionchildren in prostitution

The secondary groups are:The secondary groups are:

Children in domestic serviceChildren in domestic service Children in the pyrotechnics industryChildren in the pyrotechnics industry Children in muro-ami/deep-sea fishingChildren in muro-ami/deep-sea fishing Children in vegetable and sugar productionChildren in vegetable and sugar production

Areas of Action Areas of Action

Situation analysis Situation analysis National policy National policy Int’l labour standardsInt’l labour standards Advocacy Advocacy Social mobilizationSocial mobilization Direct services: preventive, Direct services: preventive,

protective, rehabilitative protective, rehabilitative Capability buildingCapability building

Situation Analysis Situation Analysis

National surveysNational surveys Dedicated surveysDedicated surveys Special investigative Special investigative

techniquestechniques Outreach servicesOutreach services

International standardsInternational standards

UN Convention on UN Convention on the rights of the childthe rights of the child

ILO Convention 138 ILO Convention 138 ILO conventions on ILO conventions on

forced labour, night forced labour, night work, etc. work, etc.

Proposed convention Proposed convention on intolerable forms on intolerable forms of workof work

Law enforcementLaw enforcement National law and regulationsNational law and regulations Operational guidelines Operational guidelines

regarding hazardous work regarding hazardous work Action against deceptive Action against deceptive

recruitment and traffickingrecruitment and trafficking Increased priority of labor Increased priority of labor

inspection in informal work inspection in informal work arrangementsarrangements

Priority-settingPriority-setting

Formulation of the Formulation of the Indicative Framework Indicative Framework for action giving for action giving greater emphasis on greater emphasis on priority target groups priority target groups of childrenof children

AdvocacyAdvocacy

Challenging the Challenging the mythsmyths

Lobbying Lobbying Strategic alliances Strategic alliances

and coalitions and coalitions National media National media

campaignscampaigns

Social mobilizationSocial mobilization

Directed for and with Directed for and with the childthe child

Family protectionFamily protection Employer responsibilityEmployer responsibility Community Community

InvolvementInvolvement Inter-sectoral actionInter-sectoral action

A Diverse Range of A Diverse Range of PartnershipsPartnerships

GovernmentGovernment– Departments of: Labor & Employment, Justice, Departments of: Labor & Employment, Justice,

Social Welfare & Devt., Interior & Local Social Welfare & Devt., Interior & Local Government; Council for the Welfare of Children, Government; Council for the Welfare of Children, Phil. Information AgencyPhil. Information Agency

EmployersEmployers– Employers Confederation of the Phils.Employers Confederation of the Phils.– Bishop Businessmen’s ConferenceBishop Businessmen’s Conference

PartnershipsPartnerships

Trade UnionsTrade Unions– Trade Union Congress of the Phils., Federation Trade Union Congress of the Phils., Federation

of Free Workers, International Textile Garment of Free Workers, International Textile Garment LeatherLeather

NGOsNGOs– Visayan Forum, Stop Trafficking of Pilipinos, Visayan Forum, Stop Trafficking of Pilipinos,

Ateneo Human Rights Center, Childhope Asia, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Childhope Asia, Philippine Children’s Television, etc. Philippine Children’s Television, etc.

Focus on educationFocus on education

ScholarshipsScholarships Alternative learning Alternative learning

(NFE)(NFE) Special classes and Special classes and

flexible schedulesflexible schedules Vocational trainingVocational training

Direct services to child workersDirect services to child workers

Access to education Access to education Welfare and recreational Welfare and recreational

servicesservices Health monitoringHealth monitoring Psycho-social Psycho-social

counseling, emotional counseling, emotional supportsupport

Direct services to child workersDirect services to child workers ... ...

Legal assistanceLegal assistance Alternative income Alternative income

and livelihoodand livelihood Organizing and Organizing and

empowerment empowerment initiativesinitiatives

Focus on employer actionFocus on employer action

Awareness raising and advocacyAwareness raising and advocacy Representation in tripartite bodiesRepresentation in tripartite bodies Company codes of conduct on hiring and Company codes of conduct on hiring and

procurementprocurement Corporate outreach programmesCorporate outreach programmes Sectoral initiativesSectoral initiatives

Capacity BuildingCapacity Building

Specialized training Specialized training (psycho-social (psycho-social counseling, paralegal counseling, paralegal education)education)

Networking and Networking and collaborative actioncollaborative action

International solidarityInternational solidarity

Strategic priorities Strategic priorities for the futurefor the future

Early stage: Laying the groundwork. The Early stage: Laying the groundwork. The “100 flowers bloom” approach using a “100 flowers bloom” approach using a diverse innovative experiments. diverse innovative experiments.

Second more mature stage: Second more mature stage: comprehensive, self-sustaining comprehensive, self-sustaining programmesprogrammes