Globalization Encouraging Child Labor

By Amy V. Padilla, People's Conference against Imperialist Globalization (Manila), [11 December 1996]

The country's bid for globalization poses aggravating influence on the increasing number of child workers, particularly in the garments industry.

A study released this week by the Institute of Labor Studies (ILS) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed that the country's export-oriented strategy, its use of sub-contracting in particular, has resulted in the hiring of child workers.

Sub-contracting involves specializing in one part of a production process whose base is scattered in various parts of the country. It is in this hiring scheme where child work is perceived to have taken root and proliferated.

Work Hours

Child workers work for long hours, usually six days a week. This is especially true in exporting firms where schedules are fixed and overtime is more prevalent.

Most are paid daily or on piece rate basis; earning less than P75 pesos a day, which is less than half the legislated P165 minimum wage.

Employers hire children due to the unavailability of adult workers and the childrens' docility. Most work in home-based enterprises, while some are in factories.

Gender bias is also seen in certain industries. For instance, child workers in garments frims are more likely female, while those in footwear and handicrafts are likely male.

The children, mainly aged 11 to 17, are mostly school drop-outs who finished either elementary or high school. Financial constraints push them to work.

Child labor

Child labor is work among children less than 15 years of age. This also includes work of minors aged 15 to 17 in hazardous activities.

Child workers in the country increased from 2.2 million in 1991 to five million in 1994. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that there are five to 5.7 million working Filipino children. Most are aged five to 17.