CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

This chapter involves on how the researchers arise with the study from the statistics

provided, to the problem needs to be stated and to the significance of the present study.

Background of the Study

Biologically, a child being between the stages of birth and puberty. And also, the

legal definition of child generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger

than the age of majority (TheFreeDictionary.com, 2013). Legally, the term "child" may

refer to anyone below the age of majority or some other age limit. And in international spot

like UNICEF believes on the Convention defines a 'child' as a person below the age of 18,

unless the laws of a particular country set the legal age for adulthood younger. The

Committee on the Rights of the Child, the monitoring body for the Convention on the

Rights of the Child, has encouraged States to review the age of majority if it is set below

18 and to increase the level of protection for all children under 18.

In some countries, children are legally obliged to go to school until they are 14 or

15 years old, but also work before that age. A child’s right to education is threatened by

early marriage, child labor, and imprisonment. (Melchiorre, 2004) While it is a fact,

children must have not only the proper care and protection but also the needs for survival,

development, and participation from parents or even the foster one and other caregivers

and stewards of their rights accordingly verified by Convention on the Rights of the Child

wherein the Philippines is one who ratified the international legal basis. Also, Wikipedia

enlisted one of many social issues that affect children, such as childhood education,
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bullying, child poverty, dysfunctional families, child labor, hunger, and child

homelessness.

The researchers center their study on one of the social issues that affecting the

children, the child labor. Child labor were evident in the Philippines that was the motive

of the legislators to established the Republic Act 7610 known as “Special protection of

children against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination act” and Republic Act 9231

known as “An act providing for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and

affording stronger protection for the working child” that enables to eliminate or reduce the

number of children in the workplace.

In section 12 of Republic Act 7610 defines the child labor as it refers to the illegal

employment of children below the age of fifteen (15), where they are not directly under the

sole responsibility of their parents or legal guardian, or the latter employs other workers

apart from their children, who are not members of their families, or their work endangers

their life, safety, health and morals or impairs their normal development including

schooling. This also extends to the situation of children below the age of eighteen (18) who

are employed in hazardous occupations. (Official Gazette of the Republic of the

Philippines, 2015)

But in other studies prove that child labor, like in the United States, is categorized

under child abuse, an act that affects the children in a physical, emotional, and mental way.

“While no clear… in general the term child labor refers to work that impedes children’s

access to education and is harmful to their physical, mental, moral, developmental, and

social well-being” (Schmitz, Traver, Larson, and Pieris, 2004). Child labor is one of the
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many different types of child abuse. It is the act that force the children to work and lose the

opportunities to realize activities according to their age such as study, play, and develop a

normal healthy body and a healthy childhood. It is also a social problem which is seems to

exist since history. In the early industrialization years on the United States the child labor

increase and become a more common issue, and by the early decades of the twentieth

century it decreases.

The child labor was defined in different terms consequently for their studies. The

aforementioned issue drove the lawmaker in the country to create laws like R.A. 7610 and

R.A. 9231. These laws implied that child labor is an issue in the country. But this issue is

not only in the Philippines, the world and other countries was not only conquering for the

world peace but also on the child labor. Studies counts through statistics of how many

children were in different industries working for themselves and for other people.

Today Latin America not only has the countries with large number of children

involve in the labor market, including Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, but also has

countries with some of the highest incidence: Bolivia, 25%, Peru, 28%, and Ecuador, 34%

(Orazem, Sedlacek, Tzannatos, 2009). The statistics provide the verifications of the

existence of child labor in number. Latin America contributes an accounts in run to massive

child labor population.

According to ILO estimates in 2000, there are over 245 million child laborers in

the world, who are below the age of 18. Approximately 179 million of these girls and boys

are involved in the worst forms of child labor. Sub-Sahara Africa, Asia and the Pacific

together account for more than 83 percent of total child employment for the 5 to 14 age

range (International Labor Organization, 2002)

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Recent global estimates based on data of UNICEF, the ILO and the World Bank

indicate that 168 million children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in child labor. Millions of them

suffer in the other worst forms of child labor, including slavery and slavery-like practices

such as forced and bonded labor and child soldiering, sexual exploitation, or are used by

adults in illicit activities, including drug trafficking. Despite a steady decline in child labor,

progress is far too slow. At current rates, more than 100 million children will still be trapped

in child labor by 2020.

The International Labor Organization states in its latest World Report on Child

Labor (2013) that there are around 265 million working children in the world—almost 17

per cent of the worldwide child population. In the data given, Sub-Saharan Africa is the

region where child labor is most prevalent. While absolute numbers are still high,

particularly in those countries with the lowest standards of living, from a historical

viewpoint there are concrete examples of countries that managed to virtually eliminate

widespread child labor in the course of a century.

Violations of children’s rights remain tragically common across the world. In

general, work among children tends to be more common in the poorest countries. Seven in

ten children in child labor are working in agriculture. This work in child labor are working

in agriculture. This work relates mainly to subsistence and commercial farming and herding

livestock, and its often hazardous. Contrary to popular perception, most working children

in the world (more than two-thirds) are unpaid family workers, rather than paid workers in

manufacturing establishments or other forms of wage employment. Working hours of

children vary widely between countries. For working children, this can range from 2-3

hours to more than 30 hours per week, as in Bangladesh. (Ortiz-Ospina and Roser, 2018)
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In the Philippines, there are around 2.7 million kids working for their families based

on the latest estimates of the Philippines Statistics Authority. The agriculture sector still

accounts for the largest share or child workers at 71%. Meanwhile, more than 60% of them

are workers for family enterprises. (Pasion, 2017)

Citing government data, the International Labor Organization on June 10 said there

are 2.1 million child laborers aged 15-17 years old in the Philippines. Ninety-six percent

of the child laborers are involved in hazardous work. A United States Department of Labor

(US DOL) report listed 13 Philippine goods and products believed to be made with child

labor: bananas, coconuts, corn, fashion accessories, fish, gold, hogs, pornography,

pyrotechnics, rice, rubber, sugarcane, and tobacco. A local study of 6 rural communities

across the Philippines also shows that one in 5 Filipino households tolerates child labor in

plantations and mines. About 73% of those surveyed who tolerate child labor said they are

aware of the children’s rights but let their children work to raise the household income.

(Bernal, 2015)

Based on the final results of the 2011 SOC (Survey On Children), the estimated

number of children aged 5 to 17 years who worked for at least one hour during the past

week in October 2011 was 3.3 million. They accounted for 12.4 percent of the estimated

26.6 million children 5 to 17 years old in the country. Of the 17 administrative region,

fourteen had at least one working children in every ten children. Northern Mindanao had

the highest proportion at 22.1 percent while the National Capital Region had the lowest at

5.4 percent. The working boys (62.9 %) outnumbered the working girls (37.1%). As to age

group, 53.2 percent of the working children were 15 to 17 years old, 38.0 percent were 10

to 14 years old and 8.8 percent were 5 to 9 years of age.

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The number of working children considered as engaged in child labor as defined

by Republic Act 9231 was estimated at 2.1 million or 63.3 percent of the 3.3 million

children 5 to 17 years old who worked during the week prior to the survey. More than half

of these children in child labor (58.3%) belonged to age group 15 to 17 years who were

part of the labor force population. Also, more than half of the working children engaged in

child labor (58.4%) were in the agriculture sector.

Those in hazardous child labor was estimated at 2.0 million or 61.9 percent of the

total working children. Whereas, those in other child labor (49 thousand), that is, those

children in the age group 5 to 14 years who worked in excess of the allowable work hours

comprised 1.5 percent of the working children 5 to 17 years old. Across regions, Central

Luzon (10.5%) and Bicol Region (10.4%) had the largest share of the country’s child labor

population. As to school attendance, approximately 2.1 million working children 5 to 17

years old had attended school during the current school year (SY 2011-2012). They

comprised 64.6 percent the total working children aged 5 to 17 years old. (Philippine

Statistics Authority, 2015)

However, in the demographic variable, the researchers confine the study in the

Municipality of Bulan. The San Juan Daan is said to be the community that cater the highest

number of child labor. As the concerned student researchers in Bulan, we initiate the study

to determine the level of awareness and how they perceive concerning the certain sections

of Republic Act 9231 as a law against the anti-child labor.

Regarding this issue, the Philippine government established an act that will also

protect and prevent any exploitation or anomalies with respect to child labor. Republic Act

no. 9231 is an act providing for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and
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affording stronger protection for the working child. It is amended from the Republic Act

no. 7610, otherwise known as the “Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse,

Exploitation and Discrimination Act”.

The Republic Act 9231 is composed of thirteen sections but this study will only

employ the Section 2, Section 3, and Section 4 which is actually the sections discussing

about child laborers in its working hours, income, and education. Despite this act provided

by the government to cope the rapid increase in number of child labor around the country,

large number of child laborer exist until now. Probably, most of the residents in different

places around the country are not totally aware of the said law.
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Statement of the Problem

The researchers intend to evaluate the enforcement of Section 2, Section 3, and

Section 4 in existing child labor in the Philippines specifically in the community of San

Juan Daan in Bulan. The study mixes the quantitative and qualitative tactics with regards

to the Republic Act 9231 that corresponds to “An act providing for the elimination of the

worst forms of child labor and affording stronger protection for the working child…”

Additionally, the law amended the Republic Act 7610 also known as "Special protection

of children against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination act”. The study’s objectives

encompass the child labor and the sector that surrounds it that plays a role significantly on

the development of child workers. The study aims to have the representation of the

respondents as a whole in providing their perceptions and the awareness that they naturally

gain. The intervention of the study would be a contribution in raising awareness and

broaden the perceptions of the respondents regarding the law on child labor. Specifically,

the research study focuses on the following questions:

1. The researchers asked in the quantitative means as of the following:

1.1.What is the level of awareness towards R.A. 9231 of the following

respondents:

a) Child laborers

b) Parents of child laborers

c) Employers

d) Barangay officials

1.2. Is there a significant difference between the level of awareness of the

respondents and/or variables regarding R.A. 9231?

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2. In the qualitative state of the study, the researchers want to ask the following:

2.1.Why do children engage in child labor in terms of the perception of the child

laborers and the parents?

2.2. What is the perception of the child laborers in terms of safety in their

workplace?

2.3. What is the perception of the parents regarding the importance of the study

over work?

2.4. What are the considerations of the employer for their workers in terms of:

a) Age of the worker

b) Intensity of the Job

3. What are the actions and programs that the barangay officials did or they can do

concerning the child labor particularly to the level of awareness and perceptions of

their citizens and/or the respondents of the study?

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Hypothesis

H0- There is no significant difference on the level of awareness with regards the main

focus of the study in terms of the respondents, as follows:

a) Child laborers

b) Parents of the child laborers

c) Barangay officials

d) Employers

Scope and Delimitation

The study concentrates in the Section 2, Section 3, and Section 4 of the Republic

Act 9231 (amendment of R.A. 7610) that regards on “An act on providing for the

elimination of the worst forms of child labor and affording stronger protection for the

working child”. The study includes the level of awareness as well as the perception of the

respondents towards the law wherein the study encompasses. The researchers involve the

residents of Barangay San Juan Daan which said to be the highest number of child laborers

from ages 15 below in a study among the communities of Bulan in Sorsogon. The variables

of the study compose of child laborers, parents of child laborer, barangay officials, and

employers.

The research study excludes the other sections of the amending law. The study

delimits on the awareness and perceptions of the remaining barangay in Bulan, Sorsogon.

The study also disregards and do not choose the business to be interviewed or even

surveyed. The study flows on a representative of the research as a whole. The study

discounts the external factors that do not involve in the business of child labor.
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Significance of the Study

Research must have its significance in various sectors of the society. As for further

reasons, the research study sought to provide importance to the following:

Child Laborers. The study benefits by providing them the proper guidance in the

intervention to be made from law about child labor. They will also have the chance to be

recognize in their community that their situation is not appropriate at a young age, also,

they will have a chance of be lift by the government about involving in case of child labor

for them to give a better education and lifestyle towards their future.

Parents of the Child Laborer. The study is significant to the parents since the

study focuses about child labor, they would be able to know the perception and awareness

of their children who were involve in the case of child labor and also for them to be aware.

As the study further concerned, the parents can make a way of what actions must they do

to make their child aware of what situation they are involving, also they will be able to

change the lifestyle of their children since they were required to provide their children a

proper schooling.

Barangay Officials. The study includes them for significance by helping them to

cope any exploitation and/or child labor within their barangay. They will be also aware that

there are cases of child labor in their community as the reason for them to have make

actions towards this issue.

Municipality of Bulan. The study is significant to the Municipality of Bulan since

they will be aware about the awareness and perception of the residents of Barangay. San

Juan Daan which said to has the highest number of Child Labor victims. This can pursue
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them to establish an actions that is beneficial not only for said barangay but also to whole

Municipality of Bulan.

Employer. The study has significance on them since some of the child laborers are

employed in their business/industry, they will be able to know what way should they do

when there are children ages 15 below as stated by section 2, section 3, and section 4 of

the Republic Act 9231 of the Philippines.

Future Researchers. The research study is significant to the future researchers in

such reason when variables are similar for their research study. The study helps them as

basis to arise with their research and give basic and prior knowledge and information for

their study.

Definition of Terms

The following terms were defined in conceptual and operational manner

accordingly on the research study for further understanding:

Republic Act No. 9231. An act providing for the elimination of the worst forms

of child labor and affording stronger protection for the working child, amending for this

purpose was Republic Act No. 7610, as amended, otherwise known as the “Special

Protection of Child Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”.

Section 2 of R.A. 9231. The Section that state the Section 12. Employment of

children of R.A. 7610 as amended which said that children below fifteen (15) years of age

shall not employed except when the child works directly under the sole responsibility if

his/her parents or legal guardian. And when child employment or participation in public

entertainment or information through cinemas, theater, radio, television or other forms of

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media is essential provided that the employment contract is concluded by child’s parents

or legal guardian, with the express argument of the child concerned if possible.

Section 3 of R.A. 9231. The Section of R.A 9231 as amended on R.A 7610

including new sections to be denominated as Section 12-A which stated the hours of work

of a working child, Section 12-B that stated the ownership, usage, and administration of

working child’s income, Section 12-C which stated the trust fund to preserve part of the

working child’s income, and section 12-D which stated the prohibition against worst forms

of child labor.

Section 4 of R.A. 9231. The section of R.A. 9231 which states Section 13 of R.A.

7610 as amended that focuses on the access to education and training for working children.

Level of awareness towards Section 2, Section 3, and Section 4 of R.A. 9231. In

the study, it shows how aware the respondents on Section 2 and 3 of R.A. 9231 by

employing Likert Scale to find their level of awareness.

Perception towards Section 2, Section 3, and Section 4 of R.A. 9231. In the

study, it gives the knowledge or any idea of the respondents about the existing of R.A.

9231 specifically on its Section 2, Section 3, and Section 4.