The Face of Child Labor in the Philippines: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Laws and Policies

Child labor undermines human capital, leading to a decline in labor productivity that ultimately impacts a country's economy. This study reviewed the existing statutory and regulatory laws and policies of child labor in the Philippines using qualitative content analysis. The paper highlighted the compliance with child labor in the Philippine government with the child labor framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly in terms of (a) statutes enacted, (b) policies and programs implemented, and (c) rate of child labor incidents in the country. The result shows that although laws were created shortly after the ratification of the CRC, the delay in implementing corresponding policies and programs contributed to an increasing child labor incident. However, once policies and programs were in place, the incidence of child labor declined. This indicates that addressing child labor is critically dependent on the timing and responsiveness of policy interventions. The study confirms that the Philippine government is committed to eradicating child labor and has complied with the provisions of the CRC. Academe should also be actively involved in disseminating information regarding child labor practices and in developing policies that are more research-based and adaptable to emerging challenges.