Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Child labor refers to any work or activity performed by children under the

age of 18 that is harmful to their physical, mental, or emotional well-being, or that

interferes with their education. Child labor can take many forms, including domestic

labor, working in factories, mining, agriculture, street vending, and begging. Child labor

is considered a violation of children's rights, as it deprives them of their childhood,

education, and development, and exposes them to various hazards, including physical

and sexual abuse, exploitation, and forced labor. Child labor is a widespread problem

in many countries, especially in developing countries, where poverty, lack of

education, and weak labor laws contribute to its prevalence.

Child labor is a complex issue that has multiple underlying causes. Poverty

is a significant factor that contributes to child labor, as children from poor families may

be forced to work to help support their families. Lack of education also plays a role, as

children who are not enrolled in school may be more likely to engage in work to earn

a living. Cultural attitudes can also perpetuate child labor, as some societies expect

children to work from a young age and may not see it as a problem. Discrimination

against certain groups, such as minorities or low castes, can make children more

vulnerable to exploitation. Additionally, weak labor laws in some countries or a lack of

enforcement of existing laws can leave children without adequate protection. Finally,

the demand for cheap labor in industries such as agriculture and manufacturing can
 drive the exploitation of children. Addressing child labor requires a multi-

faceted approach that involves governments, civil society, and the private sector

working together to tackle these underlying causes.

Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that

deprives them of their childhood,[3] interferes with their ability to attend regular school,

and is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful.[4] Such exploitation is

prohibited by legislation worldwide,[5][6] although these laws do not consider all work

by children as child labour; exceptions include work by child artists, family duties,

supervised training, and some forms of work undertaken by Amish children, as well as

by indigenous children in the Americas.[7][8][9]

Child labour has existed to varying extents throughout history. During the 19th

and early 20th centuries, many children aged 5–14 from poorer families worked in

Western nations and their colonies alike. These children mainly worked in agriculture,

home-based assembly operations, factories, mining, and services such as news boys

– some worked night shifts lasting 12 hours. With the rise of household income,

availability of schools and passage of child labour laws, the incidence rates of child

labour fell.[10][11][12]

In the world's poorest countries, around one in four children are engaged in

child labour, the highest number of whom (29 percent) live in sub-saharan Africa.[13]

In 2017, four African nations (Mali, Benin, Chad and Guinea-Bissau) witnessed over

50 percent of children aged 5–14 working.[13] Worldwide agriculture is the largest

employer of child labour.[14] The vast majority of child labour is found in rural settings
and informal urban economies; children are predominantly employed by their parents,

rather than factories.[15] Poverty and lack of schools are considered the primary cause

of child labour.[16]

Globally the incidence of child labour decreased from 25% to 10% between

1960 and 2003, according to the World Bank.[17] Nevertheless, the total number of

child labourers remains high, with UNICEF and ILO acknowledging an estimated 168

million children aged 5–17 worldwide were involved in child labour in 2013.[18]

Republic Act 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against

Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, is a law in the Philippines that aims to

protect children from different forms of abuse, such as physical, sexual, and emotional

abuse, as well as neglect and exploitation.The law provides guidelines for reporting

child abuse and mandates the creation of child protection units in every province, city,

and municipality in the Philippines. It also sets forth the responsibilities of parents,

guardians, and other individuals and organizations in protecting the rights of children.

Furthermore, Republic Act 7610 criminalizes child prostitution, child trafficking,

and other forms of sexual exploitation of children. It imposes penalties for those who

violate the law, including imprisonment and fines. In summary, Republic Act 7610 aims

to safeguard the welfare and rights of Filipino children and to hold accountable those

who commit offenses against them.