Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Philippines (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government (see Articles 7(2)(a) and 7(2)(b) concerning access to education and child victims of trafficking), as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour.  1. Ensuring access to free basic education. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the significant results achieved following the implementation of: (i) the compulsory schooling provisions under the Enhanced Basic Education Act No. 10533 of 2013; (ii) the provisions of educational assistance, school supplies and food and clothing under the Project Angel Tree; and (iii) the Education for All (EFA)-related programmes and policies implemented by the Government. However, the Committee noted from the EFA review of 2015 that keeping children in school until they finish their basic education and reducing drop-outs in the first three grades remained an issue. The Committee therefore requested the Government to take the necessary measures to reduce school drop-out rates, particularly in early grades, so as to prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that the Enhanced Basic Education Act also addresses the educational needs of children under difficult circumstances and those from indigenous communities. It also notes from the Government’s report that the Department of Education (DepEd) issued the Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy of 2017 to address the gender parity in basic education by mainstreaming gender in all its educational policies, programmes and projects. The Committee further notes the Government’s statement that the DepEd is continuing its efforts to ensure access to, and completion of, free education for all Filipino children through implementing various programmes aimed at promoting inclusive education for all children, such as: the Early Childhood Care and Development MultiGrade Programme; the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Programme; the Accreditation and Equivalency Programme; and the Financial Assistance Programme. The Committee notes the Government’s information in its supplementary report that the ALS programme aims to provide opportunities for school drop-outs and those school-aged children who cannot regularly report to school to complete their elementary and secondary education outside the formal system. In 2019, about 26,889 Community Learning Centers were offering the ALS programme. Moreover, the Government Assistance and Subsidies programme, which provides financial assistance to deserving elementary school graduates to pursue their secondary education, has benefitted 2,425,198 students in 2019. In addition, measures are in place to continue providing better access to education during this period of emergency such as the Learner Enrolment and Survey Form designed to profile the household in terms of their readiness for distance education and the DepEd Commons, an online learning platform for students who are currently forced to stay home. The Government further reports that according to the data from the Enhanced Basic Education Information System, 2018, from 2015 to 2018, the school drop-out rates in early grades have decreased significantly. The Committee, however, notes from the UNESCO statistics of 2017, that although the net enrolment rate at the primary level was 93.78 per cent, a total number of 1,317,786 children and adolescents were out of school in 2017.  Considering that education is key in preventing children from being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee strongly encourages the Government to intensify its efforts to facilitate access to, and completion of, free basic education for all children. In this regard, it urges the Government to take the necessary measures to increase the school enrolment and completion rates and reduce the school drop-out rates. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the specific measures taken in this regard and the results achieved.

2. Children engaged in drug trafficking. The Committee previously requested the Government to pursue its efforts to prevent the engagement of children under the age of 18 years in drug trafficking.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the measures taken by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to prevent children from being engaged in drug related offences. In this regard, the Sangguniang Kabattan (Youth Council) Standard Training in Extensive Anti-Drug Prevention Education (SK STEP-UP), through its anti-drug advocacy programme plays an important role. The PDEA also developed, published and distributed comics to educate young people on the specific issues related to illegal drug activities and implemented Drug Prevention Education through conducting seminars, symposia and lectures for youths.  The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to prevent the engagement of children under the age of 18 years in drug trafficking related offences and to provide information on the number of children reached by the preventive activities mentioned above.

Article 7(2). Clause (b). Removing children from the worst forms of child labour and providing for their rehabilitation and social integration. Child victims of trafficking.  In its previous comments the Committee noted that the Recovery and Reintegration Programme for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) through its multisectoral approach, ensures adequate recovery and reintegration services to victims of trafficking as well as to their families. However, it noted that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in its concluding observations of 22 July 2016, expressed concern at the lack of designated shelters for victims of trafficking as well as support for rehabilitation and reintegration (CEDAW/C/PHL/CO/7–8, paragraph 27). The Committee therefore requested the Government to strengthen its efforts to protect children under 18 years of age from this worst form of child labour and to provide them with appropriate services for their rehabilitation and reintegration.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that in 2018, the RRPTP served and assisted a total of 2,318 victims of trafficking including 611 minors. In 2019 the RRPTP served and assisted a total of 2,041 victims of trafficking, including 463 minors. Throughout the years of RRPTP implementation, a total of 16,250 victims of trafficking were served and assisted, 17 per cent of which were minors. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing appropriate services for rehabilitation and reintegration to victims of trafficking under the age of 18 years. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and on the number of child victims of trafficking who have been provided services, including through the RRPTP.