THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF LITTLE WORKERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

By:

GWYNETH PELARCO

MAHEKVEER SRAN

JOHN MATTHEW SUYAT

September 2023
 INTRODUCTION

Review Of Related Literature and Studies

The subject of child labor in the Philippines generally will be the focus of the research.

Child labor, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), is "work that is mentally,

physically, socially, or morally dangerous to children." Although the image of children forced to

work nonstop under difficult living conditions may come to mind when you think about child

labor, it is not the full picture. Not all of the work that kids do is unfavorable. You may, for

instance, work part-time after school, and that is okay. When there is a chance that working

might be dangerous, a problem arises. The threat might be social, mental, or physical. It could

also imply that you are no longer able to attend school due to your job (Cordeiro, V.C, 2021).

The main reason why kids engage in child labor is because their parents or guardians

think it's "normal" for them to work, and occasionally it's necessary for the children and their

families' survival. It's critical to consider child labor from the viewpoint of the children, families,

and communities involved while discussing the issue. The primary underlying factors are likely

to be poverty, lack of knowledge, lack of education, cultural contexts, and the primary source of

income for families (1996-2023 International Labour Organization (ILO)).

It is crucial to look at this societal issue in more detail throughout this research. To clarify child

labor’s complicated issues, including its sources, impacts, and potential solutions. We can

promote change, increase awareness, and assure the safety and protection of children throughout
the world by having a thorough understanding of the numerous facets of child labor. (ECLT

Foundation)

STATE OF THE PROBLEM:

1. Profile of the respondents.

1.1 Age

1.2 Gender

2. What are the experiences of child labor?

2.1 Decision making

2.2 Physical effect

2.3 Mental effect

2.4 Income

2.5 Family

3. How does child labor affect their future?

4. How do they cope with their problem?

5. What plan of action can be done?

PURPOSE OF STUDY

Child labors. This study will benefit the children working at a young age to help them in the

current situation they are in and raise awareness for other people. They also won’t work

anymore.

Parents. This study is important to parents to be aware of the law and the rights of the children.

Community. For them to be aware on the situations of the child laborers

Government. For them to do something about the situation and help them to give solution for

children not to work anymore

 METHODS AND PROCEDURES

This study uses descriptive research that mainly focus on collecting data and characteristics of a

person. It should answer the questions ‘what, where, when, and how’ but never questions that can

only answer yes or no. In addition to that, it answers why a phenomenon happened, understand

how, when and where it happened.

This type of research method is used to investigate one or more variables which can be

controlled and manipulated. To conduct this type of research, the researchers watch videos from

YouTube and read article that is related to your topic. The researchers will gather information by

that and will be summarize the data they gathered in their own words.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1

PROFILE OF THE RESPONDENTS

RESPONDENT AGE GENDER

1 14 Male
2 14 Female
3 10 Male
4 10 Male
5 10 Female

Most children that are working are ranging about 10-14 years of age. Most of these are male and

some are female. This shows that mostly male children are forced to work.
 Table 2

WHAT ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF CHILD LABOR

The respondent Documentaries

They were forced to work due to extreme poverty that the respondent
experienced. Because of that, child laborers had to abandon their home as a D1
result of internal conflict in the family and they also suffered the heavy weight
of the bag and walking a long distance to deliver it.
The child needs to work to help her family from poverty and the money she
earned from working in a rice plantation still doesn’t meet the needs of her D2
family. The affect of working at a young age for her is her body is not growing
right for her age and she set aside her childhood just to be a standing mother on
her family
The respondents have to work in a field in order to help their parents even
though the wage isn’t enough to satisfy the family’s needs. No proper physical D3
growth and no proper childhood are the physical and mental effects on the
respondents.
The experiences of the children are working in hazardous situations such as
domestic service and manufacturing. The children are forced to work and is D4
unable to determine the right and wrong since the family can’t afford to send
them to a suitable school. The child works for hours and the effect on them are
the bodily harm like burns, anxiety, depression, and poor confidence.
The child lacks fundamental abilities including making decisions on their own.
In result to that they are forced to work for the family due to poverty and D5
hunger. As an effect of working at a young age, the child works at a
construction site where it is dangerous for them to be in. Another effect on their
physical is the incapability of their body to grow like normal kids should be
making them more likely to get sick or hurt. As a result of working in a toxic
environment, the mental effects on them includes depression, antisocial
behavior, and lack of sleep.

Most of them experienced many mental and physical effects such as anxiety, depression,

antisocial, low confidence, working in hazardous place, body not growing the right way, and the
inability to make decisions of their own. In addition to that, children experienced poverty and

forced to work because of low finance or the children have been abandon by their family. This

study shows that most of the child laborers experienced mental, physical, family, and income

problem which has a huge impact on them.

Table 3

HOW DOES CHILD LABOR AFFECT THEIR FUTURE?

RESPONDENTS DOCUMENTARIES

This affects their future because they used to be in school but because of
their situation, they are forced to work instead for money and foods. D1

It affects her future because she didn’t enjoy working. At her age children
are supposed to go to school but the respondent may risk not going to D2
school in order to work for her family as she aims to be a doctor someday.
Child labor affects their future by depriving them of their childhood by
working instead of studying and playing just like other kids. By not going D3
to school, it ruins the potential for the kids to be successful.
It affects the child’s future because kids who work are frequently denied
their entitlement to education. The prospects of learning, expanding their D4
knowledge and obtaining crucial skills are important for their future
success.
It affects the future of the child because they are frequently exposed on a
risky situation wherein, they gamble their health for work. Not going to D5
school also limits the kid’s potential in life.

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 Table 4

HOW DO THEY COPE WITH THEIR PROBLEM

RESPONDENTS DOCUMENTARIES

To deal with it, they work in thought of some day they will also achieve
the future they long and that they will get out of poverty. D1

The respondent cope by just facing the problem with the help of the
organization, she didn’t need to earn money for school supplies anymore. D2

As a way for them to cope with it, their neighbor helps them to get extra D3
income so that the kids don’t have to go to the field just to work

A way for the child to deal with it is by relating to one another’s

hardships and offer support, peers who have a similar experience. D4
Furthermore, these kids allow themselves to express their feelings by
creating activities such as writing, music, or drawing.
Another way for children to cope with it is by giving access to school
and vocational training gives them the skills and opportunity to break D5
free from the cycle of child labor.
 CONCLUSION/RECCOMENDATIONS

Conclusions:

1. The researchers conclude that the respondent on documentary 1 have experienced

extreme poverty, conflicts, and had to give up their future for their family. In addition to

that they can’t enjoy their childhood because they were forced to work.

2. The researchers conclude that it can affect a child’s physical and mental health and they

work at a young age in order to help their family acquire basic needs. They also risk

school by working instead of studying

3.

4.

Recommendation

1. The researcher’s recommendation on documentary 1 is for the parents and children to be

aware that it is not right for children at a young age to work. Another recommendation is

by the children let their parents work and for the kids to go to school

2.

3.

4.
Proposed Action Plan

References:

Atom Araullo, (2021), The Atom Araullo specials: Munting bisig (full episode)
GMA Public Affairs, Premiered August 2, 2021 Aired July 25, 2021
< https://youtu.be/FZowODHlxQE>

GMA Integrated News, (2015), A 10-year old child’s labor of love and sacrifice / investigative
documentaries
Uploaded May 29, 2015
< https://youtu.be/W0MJ29C2W4o>

ChildFund International, (2022), Liza Marie’s struggle against child labor

Uploaded June 12, 2022
< https://youtu.be/ZBl4bwogaVc>

Jake Lyell, (2016), End Child Labor in the Philippines

ChildFund International, Uploaded August 17, 2016
< https://youtu.be/ZBl4bwogaVc>

Bandila, (2017), Bandila: Child laborers sa Pilipinas, higit 2 milyon

Uploaded January 25, 2017
<https://youtu.be/VnxNiihEC04?si=X2p0KQ12FMSH1BIh>

Cordeiro, V.C. (August 31, 2021), Humanium: Child labor

Uploaded August 31, 2021
<https://www.humanium.org/en/child-labour>