Key facts
- The Philippines is developing a national road map to combat child labor.
- Child labor in the Philippines has declined from 828,000 in 2022 to 509,000 in 2024.
- Majority of child labor in the Philippines involves hazardous work, often scavenging or farming.
- The ILO Japan ARISE Project aims to improve education access and provide sustainable livelihoods.
- The Alternative Learning System (ALS) helps out-of-school youth return to education.
The Philippines is developing a national road map to combat child labor as part of a broader push across Southeast Asia, where poverty and insecure livelihoods continue to drive children into work despite government efforts to stamp out the practice. Analysts warn that policy commitments alone will not be enough without stronger support for vulnerable families, better access to education, and more effective enforcement of child protection laws.