According to a statistic released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, there have been over five million recorded cases of children working in the country. In a more comprehensive data information published by the Survey on Children, they also distinguished that more than three million of these 5 to 17-year-old children engage in hazardous labor work. Some of these forms of labor are disappointingly the most prevalent types the victims are coerced into doing by cruel laborers today. They may be able to produce the most profit for the laborer’s personal gain, but they also bore the worst traumas and nightmares right into the heart, mind and soul of the Filipino youth.
Back in 2012, young Danica, who hails all the way from Davao, experienced firsthand the horrors of falling into the palms of child labor. She was hired to supposedly work in a small store in Manila, but instead ended up being a domestic helper. Her employer committed physical and verbal abuse against her especially whenever she argued about working for long hours without being given a break. This incident exactly captures forced labor, one of the top forms of child labor and abuse the country is struggling with. In her context, she went under domestic labor wherein she was living in the home of the child laborer, and received domestic abuse under the roof of the laborer. Another story would be Enrico’s, a young boy who collects trash in the dumpsite, looking for scraps that he would be able to sell for around P200–300 to provide for his family for the day. Because of the extreme poverty and unavailable job opportunities for his mother, he was forced by fate to work and provide for his family at such a young age.
Cassie and Ina, not their real names, were subject to human trafficking and sexual exploitation as they were used and abused for sexual favors in exchange of financial gain. This is yet another one of the inhumane shapes child labor can take on in the country. It already includes filming and producing sexually graphic media content or coercing them into performing sexual acts in person for profit. Aside from sex, forced recruitment of children also occur for use in armed conflicts. During the siege in the infamous Marawi City, armed groups were linked to children recruitment to fight against the Philippine government forces. This act of youth recruitment has been increasingly happening especially with the recent conflict declarations in today’s state. And, of course, the most dangerous list of child labor forms would not be complete without drugs. Just last year, 19-year-old Alan filled the role as a drug syndicate’s courier. He was found to be arrested with 60 grams of shabu and a street value of P408,000.
Why is it that we have to be made aware of the different forms of child labor existing in our society, especially those that really come out on top as the most prevailing forms? As citizens united under one nation, we must be accountable for one another’s safety and welfare, always observing what the right thing to do is and giving what is due to the holistic human person. Most especially we must nurture and foster a world in which children maximize their rights and reach their potentials, as they will be the next in line to manage the world. Let us not be bystanders and ignore the deprived, excluded and vulnerable children who still have the capacity to improve their lives. We need to show how important valuing, protecting and advancing the worth and rights of children are. The nation is more than ready after all to change the underlying factor of child labor that prevent innocent and bright children from fully experiencing these rights. They are in line so they must be protected.
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