EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In its 2022 Concluding Observations, the United Nations Committee on Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on the Philippines expressed concern over the high incidence of child labor in the Philippines, particularly in hazardous conditions, and the acceptance of such labor by both children and their parents. It urged the Philippines to allocate adequate resources to effectively implement the legislation against child labor and address the root causes of the phenomenon, undertake awareness-raising on the negative effects of child labor, intensify labor inspections and training of investigators, amplify efforts to withdraw children from child labor, and strengthen reintegration and access to education.

From October to November 2025, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through its Child Rights Center (CRC), conducted monitoring missions to gather data from key government agencies in Regions II and XII. The CRC developed a guide questionnaire to generate comprehensive data, which will be essential for identifying strengths and gaps in the formulation of evidence-based interventions for child rights policies. The Center conducted Key Informant Interviews (KII) with 14 key government agencies in Region II and Region XII since these regions have the highest share of child laborers in 2023 and are home to several indigenous cultural communities who remain vulnerable to the continued practice of child labor. Finally, the Center enriched the gathered data through desk research on existing references on child labor from reliable online sources.

This report aims to present the current situation of child labor in the Philippines in light of the recent Concluding Observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. It also seeks to reflect the number of profiled child laborers across the country’s regions based on the latest statistics on working children released by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Recent PSA data indicate a continuing decline in the number of working children and child laborers, although significant challenges remain in addressing the root causes of child labor. Furthermore, the report provides an updated assessment of the interventions and programs being implemented by the current government to address child labor. Finally, it offers recommendations to primary duty bearers and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen prevention, protection, and rehabilitation measures and to support the eventual eradication of child labor in the country.

The report is limited to available data on child labor in the Philippines as of 2025 and does not cover issues relating to child sexual exploitation, child trafficking, child soldiers, or child prostitution. There was no interview or consultation conducted with children or non-governmental organizations either.

This report reaffirms the commitment of the Commission on Human Rights to advance rights-based and whole-of-society approaches toward the elimination of child labor in all its forms.