In the Philippines, a significant number of children all over the country are forced to work due to multiple factors. The common ones being due to poverty and low family income. Due to these, the Filipino youth work in order to earn money and support their family. Other kids must labor in order to reach such objectives. These children may be found working in various places such as the farm, plantation, and in streets. Though according to the ILO (n.d.), most child laborers make up a chunk of the agricultural sector.
One must take into account, however, that there exists a difference between child work and child labor. These two are often interchanged, and child work tends to be mistaken for child labor. This article aims to properly define and differentiate the two in order for readers to grasp a better understanding of the issue of Child Labor that the Philippines faces.
In the case of Child Work, the work that the child undertakes is well-fitted to their age and capabilities. Their work is overseen and managed by responsible and caring adults or guardians, and is limited to a reasonable period of time so that the kid’s school and social life will not be disturbed. The location of work is safe and not hazardous for the child’s health and well-being. The child also voluntarily chooses to help maintain the household. Just and fair compensation is given to the kid in exchange for their work. Their work is lawfully regulated and lastly, allows and encourages development of the youth’s social advancement and development of self (Child Labor in the Philippines, n.d.).
On the other hand, we have Child Labor. Unlike Child Work, the work child laborers go through is a burden, and too heavy for them to handle and manage, taking their ages into account. They are either left unsupervised, or supervised by irresponsible and abusive superiors. Work lasts for unreasonable periods of time, causing the kid to have little to no time for school nor rest. The location of their work is clearly unsafe and hazardous to their health and well-being. To further add to that, the child, in some contexts and working conditions, sometimes are forced to face psychological or verbal abuse, and even physical or sexual abuse. Due to their circumstances, these children are forced to work or are coerced into working. Child Labor poses either little or no compensation. Their work is not lawfully regulated, and fails to contribute to the youth’s advancement and development of self. Labor is much more “exploitative and subversive,” and tends to be “disguised illegal activities” (Child Labor in the Philippines, n.d.).
Reference:
Child Labor in the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from International Labor Organization: https://www.ilo.org/manila/areasofwork/child-labour/lang--en/index.htm
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