EDITORIAL

Exploiting children for labor a bane to society

The Department of Labor and Employment has announced the agency would have a more focused action plan to eliminate child labor in agriculture, particularly the worst forms.

Better late than never. In the province of Benguet in the Cordillera, children working in vegetable farms have been documented by Dr. Charles Cheng, as having been exposed to hazardous pesticides which made them sick.

It had been years since the good doctor released results of his study, but to date, the use of harmful pesticides on vegetable plants is still a practice in the province. The use of organic fertilizers had been encouraged by the Benguet State University and the Dept. of Agriculture as a result of Dr. Cheng’s study, but some if not most farmers found it hard to change their practice of using pesticides above the allowable limit.

A DOLE dispatch said partners of the agency from the private sector signed a document -- a “call to action” to eliminate child labor in agriculture during a recent multi-sectoral forum at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City.

Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo D. Brion, was quoted in the dispatch as saying the agreement was a manifestation of the social partners’ desire and commitment to combat child labor, especially in areas where children work in hazardous situations.

A message read by Executive Director Reynaldo Ubaldo of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board said the signing of the document was a “great leap forward in elimination child labor.”

The other signatories were Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture, Undersecretary Gerundio Madueno of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Employers Confederation of the Philippines president Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr., Trade Union Congress of the Philippines vice-president Alejandro Villaviza, and Federation of Free Workers national treasurer Jose Cayubit.

It was noted that more child workers are working in agriculture than in other sectors. About 53 per cent or 2.1 million children out of the four million economically active children 5-17 years of age were reportedly found working in agriculture, hunting, and forestry, based from a national survey conducted by the National Statistics Office in 2001. Yes, 2001. Talk of timeliness in government.

“These children,” the dispatch said, “usually work long hours alongside their parents in farms and plantations and are often exposed to dangerous tools, toxic pesticides, loud noise, and extreme hot and cold weather without protection. The children are also deprived of access to quality education.”

To help the children and ensure success in the drive against child labor in agriculture, the Labor Chief called on the agency’s social partners to extend more efforts in giving quality educational opportunities for child laborers, as well as sustainable employment for the parents.

Ubaldo said full cooperation and support of all sectors, including non-government organizations, would boost the national program against child labor. Brion expressed gratitude and appreciation to program partners for their contributions to the program seeking the elimination of child labor in the country.

He also recognized the support of the International Labor Organization-International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor. The DOLE heads the national child labor committee. Members of the committee include employers and labor groups, NGOs, and local government units.

Let us see what the DOLE and other agencies could do with the agreement. The Dept. of Social Works and Development should also strive better to address child labor and exploitation. In Baguio alone, children barely out of their cribs have been seen asking for alms along Session Road after being forced to beg by their parents. Government should come up with more doable programs than uttering sugary pronouncements.