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Pagadian City - Many children have been reported to be engaged in work, employed or recruited for employment under extremely hazardous and exploitative conditions, including cases of prostitution, bonded child labor and other worst forms of child labor.

To help achieve the goal of “child labor-free” Philippines by 2015, the Department of Labor and Employment is intensifying its drive against child labor through the institutionalization of several programs and activities, one of which is the reactivation and strengthening of existing Child Labor structures.

DOLE Regional Director Ponciano Ligutom said members of the Provincial/City Child Labor Program Committee will gather for a 2-day re-orientation on the Philippine Program Against Child Labor Strategic Framework 2007-2015 and Child Labor Knowledge Sharing System at Sibugay Grand Plaza Hotel in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on September 13-14, 2011.

RD Ligutom said the activity aims to renew and intensify awareness and understanding of line implementers on the issue of child labor, thereby improving delivery of services to child laborers and their families.

Further, it is also seen to help increase the number of convictions using child labor laws and statutes through improved knowledge, skills and attitude of enforcers and partners.

Culminating the activity will be the renewal and the signing of program commitment by all line agency partners and stakeholders.

These include the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Provincial Health Office, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Liga ng mga Barangay, Department of Justice, Philippine Information Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, National Statistics Office, peoples’ organizations and non-government organizations.

Child labor is defined as the illegal employment of children, where they are not directly under the sole responsibility of their parents or legal guardians or the latter employ other workers, apart from their children, who are not members of their families, or the work of children endangers their life, safety, health and morals or impairs their normal development including schooling.(ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)