An estimated 3 million children in the Philippines work in hazardous conditions, with 1 in 6 children having to work instead of attending school. Children as young as 5 years old work 12 hours a day, 5-7 times a week in various jobs like farming, mining, factories, domestic work, and the sex trade. They receive little to no breaks or adequate food during their long work days. Child labor persists due to high poverty rates and a lack of enforcement by the government, which claims it will end child labor by 2016 but many believe that goal is unrealistic. Agriculture is a major industry where child labor is prevalent, especially in sugarcane fields, with 64% of working children employed in farming.
2. General Facts
-The president of the Philippines is Benigno Aquino lll
-The Philippines have an estimated population of 97,704,000
-They have 324 people per sq. kilometre
-The Philippines are more of a poor country (they are in debt)
-Most of the countries money comes from mining, and farming.
- The national average of poverty there is 22.3%
3. How many children working? 3 Million children work in
conditions considered as hazardous.
1 of 6 children have to work in the Philippines.
Meaning these 1 of 6 kids get no education. Kids start
working as young as 5.
How often do they work & how young? They work 12
hours a day and 5 to 7 times a week and kids start
working as young as 5. 67% of kids who work are male
33% of the Philippines is ages 5-17 because they have
no birth control which is a major issue.
Child Labor Q/A
4. Do they get breaks or food during work? If they get any
breaks at all they are very short. They get food
occasionally when working but it is also hardly
anything and known to be old and "unpleasant" food.
What kind of jobs do children have? They have many
different jobs in the Philippines, but two well known
jobs are farming and mining. They have other jobs for
children such as working in factories, sex trade,
domestic services, and at worst, being a solider.
5. Why Do children have to work so young? Kids have to work at a
young age to survive. Another reason is because many kids don't
have parents, as they could die from starvation, or typhoons.The
reason the government doesn't do anything about it is because
most of the Philippines money comes from their mining, and
agriculture. Kids are very helpful with these jobs especially with
mining, because they can reach into small areas etc.
What is the government doing to stop child labor?
First of all child labor is illegal, of course it still happens. The
government has also been doing things like trying to protect kids
when they work. Also the government claimed that child labor will be
gone in 2016, which many people think is false.
6. Agriculture-Due to the Philippines extreme climate, working in
sugarcane fields is a common form of child labor their.
-They mainly produce sugar cane plantation, when working
in the fields. Other plants are coconuts, corn, rice, rubber,
and tobacco.
-When working they use dangerous machinery and tools,
carry heavy amounts, and are exposed to harmful
pesticides.
-32% of Philippines work in agriculture.
7. -A reason why they have a lot of farming/agriculture
jobs is because the weather & the amount of farming
land
-A well known place for intense farming child labor in the Philippines
is Bicol (bee-call)
-64% of the countries working kids, work in agriculture
Agriculture (2)
