STARTER KITS. A Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) personnel talks to the 46 parents of profiled child laborers in Camarines Sur who received on Wednesday (July 5, 2023) government livelihood assistance. A total of PHP1.4 million worth of assistance were given to them. (Photo courtesy of DOLE Bicol)
LEGAZPI CITY – At least 46 parents of profiled child laborers in Camarines Sur received PHP1.4 million worth of livelihood assistance from the government, Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) chief said on Friday.
Ma. Zenaida A. Angara-Campita, DOLE Bicol regional director, said the livelihood assistance to parents of child laborers is the government’s strategic response to prevent and eliminate child labor.
"The livelihood assistance provided is part of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP). Under the Guidelines of the DILEEP, beneficiaries should not allow their children to engage in child labor," Campita said.
The assistance provided to the parents in Sagñay, Camarines last Wednesday, would allow them to start a livelihood that will augment their income. Some of them were given dressmaking and tailoring machines, food vending, vegetable vending and cooking utensils.
DOLE has so far assisted 245 parents of child laborers in Bicol, and these children and their families are being monitored regularly.
"We continue to monitor the status of the family particularly if the child has already withdrawn and if the assistance given was sustained," she said.
Campita said child labor exist when a minor is engaged in any work or economic activity that subjects them to any form of exploitation or would harm their health, safety and development.
"To consider a child for employment, a working child permit is obtained from DOLE. The work done by the child complies with the hours of work provided by law. The employer shall also provide access to primary and secondary education," she said.
Under the law, a child 15 years old or older but below 18 years old has a maximum of eight hours a day or 40 hours a week but should not work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m, while children below 15 can only work for a maximum of four hours a day or 20 hours a week. (PNA)
