In line with the government’s vision of a “child labor-free” Philippines, President Duterte has created a national council that will step efforts to prevent and eliminate child labor in the country.
Executive Order No. 92 has reorganized the National Child Labor Committee established in 2011 and now institutionalized the National Council Against Child Labor “to upscale the implementation of the Philippine program against child labor.”
“There is an urgent need to amplify government efforts for the protection of the rights of vulnerable sectors, especially the children, strengthen institutional mechanisms, and establish further measures that will contribute to the prevention, reduction, and elimination of any form of child labor,” Duterte said in the order.
The new council, chaired by the Secretary of Department of Labor and Employment, has been tasked to craft a framework, national action plan, and programs for the effective enforcement of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuses, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
It will also coordinate and conduct advocacy campaign and information dissemination on child labor and existing laws, implement the Philippine Program Against Child Labor, establish child-appropriate mechanisms such as capacity-building for child laborers and their families, develop data management system on child labor, andconduct research and surveys for policy and program development, among others. (Genalyn Kabiling)
