PHILIPPINES
Dole intensifies drive vs human traffickers
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has intensified the drive against human trafficking in the country. According to the Labor Secretary, Dole has initiated steps to combat trafficking of persons, especially child workers from the Visayas in coordination with other government agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations.
Dole intensifies drive vs human traffickers
By JONATHAN MAYUGA
TODAY Reporter
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has intensified the drive against human trafficking in the country.
Labor acting Secretary Manuel Imson said the government has been strictly implementing the rules and guidelines in the employment of workers locally and overseas as a member of the inter-agency council against trafficking (IACAT).
According to Imson, the Dole has also initiated steps to combat trafficking of persons, especially child workers from the Visayas in coordination with other government agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations.
IACAT was organized in line with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
The measure institutionalized and strengthened the efforts against human trafficking, Imson said.
IACAT is tasked to coordinate and oversee the implementation of the Act. It prioritizes the enactment of measures aimed at preventing the trafficking of persons, including the rehabilitation and integration of the trafficked individuals into the mainstream society.
The recruitment, transportation, transfer and receipt of children below 18 years of age including those who are over 18 years old but are still unable to fully take care or protect themselves from abuse, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination.
Imson reported that the Dole is at the frontline in the national program against child labor in which the Sagip-Batang Manggagawa (SBM) program is a component.
SBM is an interagency quick action mechanism aimed at rescuing, recovering and reintegrating child workers victimized by trafficking, prostitution and bonded labor including those working in hazardous activities.
From 1998 to the first quarter of 2004, about 1,938 child workers including 1,320 adults have been rescued under the SBM program.
Aside from the SBM, the Dole also initiated the Visayas Plus complementation scheme to address the illegal recruitment and trafficking of children in the Southern Tagalog Region, the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.
These regions are considered “hot spots” for child trafficking, noting that a total of 127 surveillance and 77 rescue operations were conducted under the Visayas Plus scheme.
Some 29 child workers illegally recruited to work as guest relations officers, fish and farm workers, and domestic helpers were rescued and reintegrated with their families, Imson said.