A Scene of Child Labor: How Poverty Still Prevails in the Philippines
On my way to the market on a Sunday, I chanced upon a group of children pushing big crates on the street. I estimated there were more than 7 of them lining up making a convoy on the street. These children whose ages range from 10 to 13 years of age were pushing what seems like more than 10x their body weight. I have learned that these children do this routine every day before 4:00 pm. I was surprised that these kids endure pushing heavy crates more than a kilometer to it's destination.
What were inside of those crates?
The crates were for sidewalk clothing stalls near the market. The crates transform into a collapsible structure to hold and hang RTWs clothes to sell.
Why use children to push crates and not utilize able-bodied adults?
For one, they can accept cheap pay, several pesos is more than enough to help them add to their school allowance or buy food for their family.
Another is culture because the moneyed relatives have a so-called "power" over to those relatives with little income or no income at all. The poor relatives cling to the relatives with money to survive. These people came from rural areas to escape to the city for opportunities and a view of the big city.
Some of the older generation have little education, unable to find or try to find work with decent pay so they pass the burden to their children instead. Not all of these children attend school and some don't go to school by choice due to extreme poverty.
Another is the influence of peers. These children earn money for use to play games in an internet cafe. Extra income for leisure is an option for these children to accept work or labor even for a few pesos just to be able to play their favorite computer games. Internet Cafes are popular in the Philippines because roughly less than 30% own computers along with an internet connection.
Although the Philippines have been strict on labor laws, local authorities have been lax on reprimanding parents and guardians of these children. The reason is primarily culture. There are people that you just don't mess with due to their traditions and way of life. If the local officials act on sanctions, most would still return to their old ways and much worse transfer to another location.
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nice pic friend
Thanks! :)
These kids is heros. the real heros for their family.
Yes indeed, too bad they can't enjoy life to the fullest at their age. Thanks for reading! :)
Poverty is the main cause of why children are being forced to work. Also, the parents must be at the first place educated not to put their children to work because it is not a child's responsibility although it is still healthy if a child learns how to make money for themselves but to force them is an issue that must stop because it robs them of their youth.
Indeed but I am concerned if they're not presented options/alternatives to earn that would not affect their childhood. Thanks for reading @cryptopie! :)
Outstanding post and narrative. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for reading my article! :)
That was right, sad reality.