The research study was done by conducting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions among 758 children working in various establishments in Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and Pampanga. Case studies of about 70 child workers were also done to highlight their lives in their work.
This research is only the first component of the project’s Phase II, and its results will be used as inputs for more training programs for NUWHRAIN leaders and members.
The book clarifies that child labour may be indicative of poverty but is not a result of it. The child workers in the tourism industry are, indeed, prone to exploitation. Majority are young, single and female. They are not well educated considering that only a few completed high school.
The lack of security is supported by figures that show only 35 percent of the workers are regular. Among the four provinces, Bacolod has the highest rate of regular employees. The rest of the child workers are contractual workers or commission-based workers or even non-employees who are just allowed to stay in the establishments and pick-up customers from there.
In all cases, workers are under considerable stress which affects their mental and emotional health. The mental impact of work is difficult to measure. The psychological and emotional impact of work is also very difficult to assess since many of the problems come out in the long term. The biggest impact is when they stop going to school.
The study presents a point of complication in abolishing child labour. The children work so they have money to pay for their education. Eradicating child labour may hinder their education. Another point is that, the children will not attend school without an economic change in their condition. It proposes provision of nutritional supplements or to increase the quality and usefulness of obtaining an education. There must be an economic change in the condition of a struggling family to free a child from the responsibility of working.
In the end, the book presents a call to action from different entities.
