DOLE leads child laborer out of harm’s way

All it takes is a call to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to rescue a child laborer.

DOLE RO No. 6 through its Negros Occidental Field Office (NOFO) coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, PNP, and tanod officers and social workers in rescuing an alleged child laborer working in a nightspot at Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City.

It was almost midnight when the complaint inspection commenced, and the Sagip Batang Manggagawa Rescue Team headed by Labor Inspector and Child Labor Focal Ma. Zyrene M. Prietos rescued a 15-year-old girl working at a videoke bar located at the city’s New Government Center.

The team convinced the management to cooperate in the inspection. During the interview the child related that she transferred to the videoke bar because she was a victim of sexual harassment of her previous employer who operates a carinderia or eatery.

“We will not allow the recurrence of the incident. It is our mandate to take the child laborers out of the physical, mental and psychological harm within the workplace and bring back their dignity and potentials,” DOLE Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. said.

After proper documentation with the PNP, profiling was conducted by DOLE RO NO. 6- NOFO for further interventions.

“Our services do not stop in the rescue of this child. We will make further interventions, particularly on livelihood. We understand that poverty pushes this child to work,” assured DOLE RO No. 6- NOFO head Mary Agnes N. Capigon.

A Mandatory Conference with the management of the videoke bar was scheduled to ensure that no minors will be hired in the future and the unpaid night shift differentials of the victim will be settled.

Rodriguez appreciated the complainant and gave assurance that reports on child labor incidence will be acted promptly.

“We will respond immediately- even if it is nighttime or on weekends or holidays. As long as there is a need, we will act. We consider all these cases with urgency,” Rodriguez added.