Philippines See Nearly 40% Drop in Child Labor

Why this is here: Around 900,000 children in the Philippines currently work in illegal labor, primarily on plantations or in waste dumps.

The Philippine Department of Labor reports a decrease in child labor across the country. Over two years, the number of working children fell by roughly 40 percent.

Approximately 900,000 minors still engage in illegal labor, often working on coffee and tea plantations. Many also scavenge for plastic on landfills or search for gold in swamps.

One third of these working children do not attend school. This work poses risks to their physical and mental health. Extreme poverty drives families to rely on children’s earnings for survival.

The Philippine government launched social programs to support low-income families. These initiatives aim to address the root causes of child labor. Despite progress, roughly 900,000 children remain at risk, and further support is needed to fully eliminate the practice.