The Philippines has achieved notable progress in reducing child labor, with government data showing a steady decline in working children over the past two years.
According data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of working children aged 5 to 17 dropped to 863,000 in 2024 from 1.09 million in 2023 and 1.48 million in 2022. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s fight against child labor, bringing figures even lower than the pandemic-era low of 872,300 in 2020.
The government attributes this progress to strengthened enforcement of labor laws, education campaigns, and livelihood programs for families. The Department of Labor and Employment continues to implement stricter monitoring of hazardous work environments and provide support services for rescued child workers.
The proportion of working children relative to their age group population fell to 2.7 percent in 2024, down from 4.7 percent in 2022. However, boys still make up a larger share—61.8 percent in 2024—and most working children (74.4 percent) are aged 15 to 17.
While the services sector remains the top employer of working children at 50.3 percent, agriculture still accounts for over 40 percent. Notably, 73.8 percent of working children in 2024 reported working 20 hours or less per week, a slight increase from previous years.
Crucially, the number of children engaged in child labor—defined as hazardous or excessive work—declined to 513,000 in 2024, or 1.6 percent of the child population, from 828,000 in 2022.
Despite this progress, officials acknowledge persistent challenges in rural and poverty-stricken areas. The government plans to expand community-based monitoring and education access, aiming to meet international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor by 2025.
