Oriental Negros is third province in the country with the highest number of trafficking among working children, records at the Department of Labor and Employment revealed.

Msgr. Merlin Logronio of the Saint Maria Goretti Foundation said this development is so frustrating, because last year the province was only number four in the country.

This was revealed during the Kapihan Forum for the celebration of the World Day Against Child Labor on the theme, "Harvest for the Future, Agriculture without Child Labor."

Logronio said they have identified the municipalities of Bindoy and Ayungon areas with the highest number of child labor in agriculture, sugarcane plantation, deep sea fishing, and those working as domestic helpers.

He added that, based on their information, some of these children worked as domestic helpers because their parents encouraged them to do so.

Even with the presence of child labor organizations, some families do not feel the importance of education because of the lack of sustainability, he said. Elias Trasmonte , a representative of ILO-IPEC, said most of the children who are victims of child labor are living in the hinterlands where livelihood is difficult.

Ironically, most families living in the hinterland or haciendas have many children. This is why most parents encourage their children to work in sugarcane plantation or as domestic workers to earn a living.*MA

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