Child Labor in the Philippines and Cambodia - A Comparative Analysis of Causes, Interventions, and Implications for ASEAN Commitments

Abstract

Child labor remains common among ASEAN countries, both countries have ratified the relevant ILO conventions (Minimum Age and Worst Forms of Child Labor), but ongoing challenges, especially in enforcement and data precision persist. In 2022, about 56% of Filipino children and 7.5% of Cambodian children were in hazardous labor both aged 5 to 17. In the Philippines, mostly older children worked in services, while in Cambodia, younger children (ages 5 to 14) worked more in agriculture.

In Cambodia, while progress has been noted (e.g., reduction from 37% to 17% of working children), hazardous labor remains alarmingly high, particularly among older children. As a consequence of the ratification of the ILO core conventions 138 and 182, both Cambodia and the Philippines have enacted laws, regulations and related policies to eliminate child labor. However, despite all these efforts, child labor persists to become one of the major challenges in a country. For these reasons, this study therefore attempted to explore child labor and the underlying factors as to why it remains prevalent despite the interventions and policies crafted to combat it. The findings showed differences in child labor conditions, but both countries share similar policies, having ratified ILO Conventions 138 and 182. The ASEAN roadmap 2025 also has a similar thrust to eliminate child labor in other ASEAN countries as a commitment to ILO conventions 138 and 182. The 2025 roadmap also clearly outlined that ASEAN member states must undertake to realize an inclusive community that promotes quality of life, particularly to the children and youth. Similar studies to assess policies, programs, and actions to eliminate child labor should be done in other ASEAN countries aside from Cambodia and the Philippines. It is recommended that meticulous and stringent monitoring measures be taken to eliminate child labor.