On 23 June 2018, the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) participated in the celebration of the World Day Against Child Labor held at San Andres Sports Complex, Intramuros Manila.   

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Ligtas sa Paggawa, Malusog na Batang Malaya” to reflect the need to save children from child labor, and help them live in a safe and healthy environment.

This year’s celebration was formally opened by DOLE Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod and brought together different government agencies, workers organizations, schools, employers and civil society organizations to highlight the plight of child laborers and solutions that can be done to help them.

The ILS team, headed by Acting Deputy Director Ma. Isabel B. Artajo, facilitated the children’s activities to make the event more lively and meaningful for the children. The activities included face and hand painting, and drawing contest.

The event was capped by a video message by DOLE Secretary Silvestre Belo reaffirming the country’s commitment to remove one million children from dirty, demeaning, and dangerous works that deprive them of their childhood by 2025.

The World Day Against Child Labor was launched in 2002 by the International Labor Organization (ILO) to focus attention on the global extent of child labor and the actions needed to eliminate it.

The Institute for Labor Studies is the policy and research arm of the Department of Labor and Employment. For more information about ILS products and services, please visit: http//ils.dole.gov.ph or call Advocacy and Publication Division at Tel. No. 527-3590