DOLE to launch child labor-free barangay campaign in Zamboanga

By Alfonso T. Ruda

Saturday 26th of May 2012

DIPOLOG CITY, MAY 26 (PIA) -- The Provincial Office of the Department of Labor and Employment in Zamboanga del Norte is scheduled to conduct a child labor-free barangay campaign on May 29, 2012 in Barangay Baybay in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte.

Barangay Baybay is one of the 76 barangays identified by the DOLE as a barangay with high incidence of child labor which will be transformed into a child labor-free zone.

According to the Labor Department, most of the child labor cases identified in the barangays are mining; farm work; deep sea fishing; pyrotechnics production; stevadore; vending; rubber budding; banana bagging; cargo loading; sugar cane farm work; scavenging; waitress/waiter; and pedicab driving.

Ms. Lourdes Amores, DOLE-Zamboanga del Norte Supervising Labor Officer III said, the campaign has been scheduled to be undertaken after a coordination meeting with the officials of the Local Government Unit of Liloy, community leaders and Barangay Chairmen to ensure their cooperation in minimizing child labor and illegal recruitment of minors in their area.

The DOLE anti-child labor program involves stricter enforcement of child labor laws, knowledge sharing, and alternative employment for the child workers’ families.

Earlier Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, in her speech during the nationwide launching of the child labor-free barangay campaign at the Occupational Health and Safety Center said, the department has mapped out strategies to intensify the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program.

These strategies include preventing children from engaging in child labor through livelihood assistance to parents of child laborers and educational assistance; removing children from child labor through Sagip Batang Manggagawa (SBM); advocacy activities; capacity building; and strengthening partnerships.(NBE/ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)