Closing Message at the Provincial World Day against Child Labour

By Mr Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Director, ILO Country Office for the Philippines at the Provincial World Day against Child Labour, Bukidnon, Philippines, 11 June 2012

Greetings:

• Secretary Luistro of the Department of Education
• Congressman Zubiri,
• Mayor Gue of the Municipality of Quezon
• Assistant Secretary Recio Regional Director Johnson Canete of DOLE,
• Ms Villanueva, President of the Sugar Industry Foundation
• Mr Aponte of Coca-Cola Foundation
• Datu Anglao of the Manobo Tribe
• Dr Soliven of the Central Mindanao University
• Our partners in the fight against child labour
• Ladies and gentlemen, maayong hapon sa inyong tanan (good afternoon to all of you)

Ending the worst forms of child labour by 2016 is a global goal. It may sound at a first glance that it’s an unachievable international commitment. However, I strongly believe that through partnership it can be achieved. Through your shared efforts, children in this country now have a better chance or access to education.

Seeing the results of these efforts bring fresh hopes to children and their families trapped in poverty and vulnerable forms of employment. These families are often left with little choice but to create or to accept whatever work is available in order to survive.

Often at the route of child labour is poverty – poverty which often exists because of lack of inclusive economic opportunities.

Decent and productive work is the key mechanism to achieve sustainable, inclusive and greener growth. The economic crisis has shown that it is not the level of growth, but how we achieve sustainable, inclusive and greener economic growth. This is an approach that is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan and built in the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan.

In fact, the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan highlights the need to strengthen measures to prevent and eliminate the worst forms of child labour. This included the need to strengthen strategic partnerships and intensify advocacy and action at the national, regional, community and firm levels.

Tackling child labour is also crucial to attain the Millennium Development Goals concerning poverty, employment, education, health and gender.

As such, your efforts here today highlight the call of this year’s World Day against Child Labour for urgent actions, which is essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Launched in 2002, the World Day against Child Labour promotes awareness and rallies action against child labour.

Each year on the 12th of June, the World Day puts the spotlight on the plight of child labourers and what each of us can do to help. In this spirit, I commend you for initiating the World Day against Child Labour in this province.

Exactly two weeks after the World Day, the national campaign for a Child labour free Philippines will be launched on the 26th of June.

During the launch, the National Statistics Office will release preliminary results of the Survey on Children, which will provide us with a detailed picture of the situation on the ground. The last time such a detailed picture was taken in the Philippines was 10 years ago.

Globally, there has been progress in reducing the worst forms of child labour. However, progress has not been at the pace that we need to reach the 2016 global goal. Collectively at the international, national and local levels, we need to intensify efforts and reach out to new partners. This is an effort which we have witnessed here today in your province.

I am also grateful to the Coca-Cola Foundation along with the sugar industry partners for the school building which was completed and turned over today. This will certainly help promote and support the need to keep children in school and out of child labour.

Indeed, private sectors and businesses have a crucial role which includes ensuring ethical production so children are not involved in the production of the food we consume for indeed sugar is sweeter without child labour.

Another important highlight of today’s World Day against Child Labour in the province is the launch of the two-year course on Sugarcane Production and Management, which is the first of its kind.

Scholarships will be given to former child labourers, ages 15 to 17. Instead of working in sugar fields, they will have the chance to take part in the two-year course. While in university, they will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. After completing the course, they will have the opportunity to be hired as managers which will help transition them into decent and productive work. This programme was made possible through the Central Mindanao University.

Let me also thank and congratulate all our partners for the Voluntary Code of Conduct to eliminate child labour in the sugar industry. With this code, industry partners now have a greater sense of purpose and responsibility in the fight against child labour.

Finally, let me take a moment to recognize your efforts for an industry-led child labour monitoring system in sugar farms and plantations. Crop inspectors will be involved in monitoring child labour. Initial profiling of child labourers will be done to assess direct interventions needed within the totality of their family situations and working conditions.

All these have been achieved due to your commitment and strong community spirit. You have all taken an extra step to intensify efforts against child labour. However, it’s a continuing journey and much more needs to be done. I hope that you will continue to strengthen all these efforts and initiatives.

The ILO, with the support of the US Department of Labor is honoured to have partnered with you.

In closing, I ask you to please share your best practices and experiences to other areas in the country and the rest of the world.

I urge you to continue working together towards providing a better future to the Filipino children and ensuring decent and productive work for their parents.

Thank you and Mabuhay!