Child labor is any work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and young people. It robs children of their right to education, forcing them to drop out of school prematurely, or juggle their studies with excessively long, grueling hours of work.
In the Philippines, it was estimated that there were 1.09 million working children aged five to 17 as of 2023, with 50 percent of them working in the services sector, 43.7 percent in the agriculture sector and 6.3 percent in the industry sector.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a rise in child labor cases in 2023, though this may even be more underestimated because of limited data and child profiling at the community, local and national levels.
Poverty remains one of the primary drivers of child labor. Insufficient resources and limited employment opportunities compel low-income families to rely on their children’s labor for survival. Given the high cost of quality education in the country, children from impoverished households are discouraged from attending school and are instead forced into labor, thereby perpetuating a vicious cycle of low educational attainment and child labor across generations.
Social and cultural norms also fuel child labor. Filipino culture often equates a “good child” with one who helps earn for the family. Working children are valued for being independent, responsible and industrious, thus normalizing the idea of children engaging in labor.
To address this issue, the government is implementing the Philippine Program Against Child Labor complemented by other programs such as the Department of Labor and Employment’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program and Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Developmental Interventions Project.
Local governments are also stepping up. The Iloilo City government established the Iloilo City Council Against Child Labor in 2024 to lead the development of local plans, programs and activities.
However, challenges persist. The lack of robust cross-sectoral coordination among programs and relevant agencies, coupled with overlapping functions, diminishes their potential impact.
Moreover, while national laws mandate comprehensive government-led child protection programming, significant formal child protection actors, such as the police and local social welfare and development offices, tend to focus on severe abuse cases. This highlights critical gaps in early detection and prevention, leaving vulnerable children unseen and unsupported.
Poor families, with no access to social protection, often see child labor as their only option.
“Child Labor is usually a consequence of pervasive poverty and the absence of social safety nets. The EU is currently working with the Philippine government on national budgeting initiatives with a focus on the well-being of children, and of course, we also work with civil society and the communities themselves. We need to act together to make child labor – in particular the worst kinds – a thing of the past,” said Marco Gemmer, Head of Cooperation of EU Delegation to the Philippines.
“At Terre des Hommes Netherlands, we believe ending child labor starts with strong local partnerships. Through the ‘Strengthening the Community-based Protection Systems to Eliminate Worst Forms of Child Labor in Visayas Region’ project, funded by the EU and implemented with Bidlisiw Foundation and Children’s Legal Bureau, we empower communities, governments and children themselves to take the lead in protecting young lives. Together, we challenge harmful norms, strengthen child protection systems and support families to break the cycle of hazardous child labor,” added Anna Abelinde, Philippine country director of Terre des Hommes Netherlands.
Child labor in the Philippines remains widespread, underscoring the urgent need to accelerate actions towards its complete eradication. A comprehensive assessment and enhancement of existing laws and policies are crucial to effectively address the multifaceted nature of child labor.
Working with communities and local civil society is equally vital for the early detection of cases and referral to concerned government agencies.
Collaborating with relevant government agencies and service providers is necessary to improve program coordination and streamline service delivery, and ensure that interventions are inclusive, gender-sensitive, child-friendly and responsive.
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Kathyleen Honculada is the advocacy and program development officer of the Philippine country office of Terre des Hommes Netherlands.
