Abstract / Excerpt:

Objectives: (1) to find out the demographic characteristics of the parents/guardians of child laborers. (2) to find out the reasons that made parents/guardians decide to let their children work at an early age. (3) to find out the opinions/perception of the child worker's parents/guardians toward child labor. (4) to determine the community organizations existing in the area, the awareness of their existence, the programs and benefits they provide for the community.

Methodology: The study made use of the descriptive method.

(continuation) Over three-fourths agreed that there is a difference in a work activity between a boy and a girl. Majority answered that a boy cannot do the things done by a girl. However 62.7% agreed that a girl can do the things done by a boy. Over ninety nine percent favorably agree that education is very important, .69% disagreed While majority agreed that it is important for a child to finish his studies,inconsistency prevails.Majority agreed that their children could be working while studying.Others wanted their children to be full time students, while a few said their children could be full time workers.More than 80% of the respondents said education is the prime responsibility of a parent to their children. Next to it is the duty to discipline and inculcate moral values, provide for basic needs, proper care and to give good future. Respondents' Knowledge on Community Relations and Programs a. Over eighty five percent were not aware of the existence of any community organization. Of those who know they enumerated of the organizations as follows: Sangguinaing Kabataan, Diocesan Youth Association, Civil Volunteer Organization, Street Children's' Organization, Livelihood and Health Organization. b. Most of the respondents had no answer because they were not aware of the existence of any children's organization in their barangay. For those who answered yes, programs given were the following: free clinic, free education, sports fest, Day-care center and organization of street children. Organizers of these programs were only the government and parishes. The objectives of these programs cater to the youth development, to help less fortunate children and for spiritual growth. c) Many benefited from the programs, but still it is not absolutely successful because out of 287 respondents only 9 or 3.1% benefit from it.

For those who left their parents, reasons evolved on economic difficulties-that parents were incapacitated to provide for basic needs and so they had to find a job and raise a family of their own. Others stayed with their relatives and some were adopted. More than three-fourths of the respondents responded favorably to the question on whether they like their children to continue to work, while 16.4% did not agree. For those who responded positively the main reason was family interest or extra income. While those who negativvely answered shows concern on the child's part but still family interest prevails. Almost one hundred percent(93.4%) answered that their child gives money out of his earnings. Usually, these child workers started at a very tender age. Some started 5 years old and below, but the modal class falls under the age bracket from 12 to 13 years old. Most of the children's work as laborers, sales workers and other physically demanding jobs. More than forty percent of the child workers were encouraged by friends and relatives within their proximity, 10.8% were hireed, 8.4% applied for the job, 32.4% decided to work while 5.9% were influenced by parents. Most of the parents preferred their children to take over the jobs they had and if not they prefer them to take on blue collared jobs. Many of the respondents agreed that the right age for a child to work is during the adolescent stage 18-19 years old, others agreed on 14-15, 20-21, 12-30, and few agreed on 4-5. Mean age was computed at 15 years old. However, there were deviatons and their preferences; standard deviation was computed at 4. More than seventy five percent agreed that there is a disparity on the household work between a boy and a girl. In terms of household chores, boys do strenous jobs compared to girls. Girls were assigned to light jobs at home like cooking, etc. because boys were less responsible than girls when it comes to this type of household work.

Info

Source Institution	Ateneo de Davao University
Unit	Social Science and Education
Authors	Timtim, Laarni., Sonsona, Ernalee., Babia, Reneelizza., Celeridad, Kristine., Magdagasang, Rebel.
Page Count	75
Place of Publication	Davao City
Original Publication Date	March 1, 1995
Tags	Child Labor, Parents or guardians, Perceptions

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