THE number of child laborers in the Philippines — those performing hazardous jobs or working more hours than legally allowed — rose last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
The ranks of working children — those aged 5 to 17 years — also increased.
Working children engaged in child labor increased to an estimated 513,650, up from 509,160 in 2024 but lower than 2023’s 678,360, the PSA reported on Wednesday.
The number of working children was said to have hit 868,540, increasing from 861,450 last year. This was markedly lower, however, compared with 1.09 million in 2023.
Child laborers comprised 59.1 percent of working children last year, unchanged from 2024 but down from 62.0 percent in 2023.
Out of all children aged 5 to 17 years, child laborers accounted for 1.8 percent, higher compared to 2024’s 1.6 percent but still better than the 2.2 percent seen in 2023.
Child labor, the PSA said, refers to:
– Working children engaged in “activities likely to be harmful to their health, safety or morals.”
– Working hours of more than 20 per week, more than four hours per day or work between 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for those aged below 15.
– Working hours of more than 40 hours per week, more than eight hours per day or work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for those aged 15 to 17.
Working children, meanwhile, comprised 3.1 percent of all Filipino children aged 5 to 17 years. This rose from 2.7 percent in 2024 but fell from 3.1 percent in 2023.
Boys continued to account for the overwhelming majority of child laborers, the PSA said, numbering 373,650 or 72.7 percent versus 140,000 or 27.3 percent for girls.
Those aged 15 to 17 comprised 80.5 percent of all child laborers, up from 78.6 percent in 2024 and 74.4 percent in 2023, indicating that child labor continues to be concentrated among older teenagers nearing working age.
By industry, agriculture accounted for 65.5 percent of all child laborers. The services sector followed with a 25.8-percent share, while industry accounted for the remaining 8.7 percent.
Boys also made up the majority of working children at 61.6 percent of the total while girls represented 38.4 percent. Nearly three-fourths, or 73.5 percent, of working children were aged 15 to 17 years.
The services sector continued to employ the largest share of working children at 48.7 percent, followed by agriculture at 41.2 percent and industry at 10.1 percent.
Most working children logged relatively short workweeks, the PSA said. About 69.1 percent worked 20 hours or less per week last year, although this was lower than the 73.8 percent recorded in 2024.
Meanwhile, 18.4 percent worked between 21 and 40 hours per week, higher than the 15.2 percent posted a year earlier.
