International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) Towards a Child Labour Free Philippines

According to the National Statistics Office (NSO) 2001 Survey on Children, there are about 4.18 million working children aged 5-7 years, which is 16.2 per cent of the total population of children within the same age group. Meanwhile, 60 per cent or 2.4 million of the children are exposed to hazardous working conditions.

Child labour remains prevalent in the Philippines, a clear manifestation of poverty. Given the significant number of child labourers, the ILO works with local partners in combating child labour in the country through a US Government-funded programme, the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).

In 2009, the ILO and the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) forged partnership through the IPEC Time Bound Project Phase 2 called “Towards a Child Labour Free Philippines”. The project provides the vision of a child labour - free Philippines by building on past gains and addressing continuing challenges. Four demonstration provinces were identified for the programme: Northern Samar, Quezon Province, Bukidnon, and Masbate. The ILO-IPEC aims to improve the knowledge system on child labour while strengthening partnership with local partners and promoting sustainability of the programme.

The Philippine government has expressed its commitment to fight child labour through the goal of the Philippine Programme Against Child Labour (PPACL), which aims to reduce the worst form of child labour by 75 per cent by 2015. The ILO, through IPEC, supports national efforts in achieving the PPACL goal. The null (DILG) issued a null for the formulation of local legislation to address child labour initiatives in the local development plans and programmes.

For further information please contact:

Mr Cesar Giovanni Soledad
Project Manager
ILO-IPEC Towards a Child Labour Free Philippines
ILO Country Office for the Philippines
19th Floor Yuchengco Tower
RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue
1200 Makati City, Philippines
Tel. +632 580 9946 or 580 9900
Email

Mr Jesus Macasil Jr.
Senior Programme Officer
ILO-IPEC Towards a Child Labour Free Philippines
ILO Country Office for the Philippines
19th Floor Yuchengco Tower
RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue
1200 Makati City, Philippines
Tel. +632 580 9952 or 580 9900
Email