Non-Hazardous Activities for Children: the case of banana and sugarcane supply chains 6

ABSTRACT: Agriculture is one of the major economic drivers in the Philippines. It plays a vital role in the country's economic development, contributing to about 8.9 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the last quarter of 2018. Agriculture in the country is characterized as labor intensive for both small-scale and multinational owned farms, making it a dominant source of employmnent in rural areas of the country. Historically, children both girls and boys, have been and continued to be part of the agricultural workforce worldwide. Among the important factors that push children to work are: family poverty, lack of accessible and quality education, lack of employment oppurtunities and decent work for adults, and cultural traditions. Children usually contribute to tending their family-owned farms or assist their parents who are working in large plantations, making their services invisble and hazardous work. Being known as one of the most hazardous sectors inthe world, agricultural work exposes children to various dangers that may or may not transcend into their adulthood. To protect children from hazrds, abuses, exploitation, neglect and cruelty, the country passed legislations including republic Act 9231 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, amending RA 7671 of 1992. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also issued Department Order 149, series of 2016 or the Guidelines in Assessing and determining Hazardous Work Work in Employment of Persons Below 18 years of Age to protect the rights and welfare of children in the Philippines. In 2017, DO No. 149-17 was released adding various tasks in the list of works not allowable for children. 56

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