Free the Slaves participated in the Technical Harmonization and Validation Workshop to review Department Order No. 149, the Guidelines in Assessing and Determining Hazardous Work in the Employment of Persons Below 18 Years of Age. Held August 27–29, 2025, at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City, the workshop was organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC).
Why This Review Matters
Department Order No. 149, Series of 2016 (as amended), lists hazardous work and activities prohibited for persons under 18, using the 2009 Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC) and the 2012 Philippine Standard Occupational Classification (PSOC). It applies to all establishments employing minors and serves as a key tool for DOLE labor inspectors to monitor compliance with labor standards, occupational safety and health standards, and child labor laws.
Hazardous child labor—work that, by its nature or circumstances, is likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children—must be strictly prohibited. While the current guidelines provide direction, emerging industries, informal work arrangements, and gaps in monitoring underline the need for updated and responsive regulations.
A Multi-Sector Effort
The workshop convened more than 70 participants, including member agencies of the National Council Against Child Labor (NCACL), technical working groups, social partners, and DOLE regional focal persons for the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP). Together, participants reviewed and harmonized proposed amendments to ensure alignment with national laws and multi-sector perspectives. As a participant, Free the Slaves reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government efforts to prevent and eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
Focus on Impact and Protection
For Free the Slaves, participation ensured that proposed amendments not only address immediate risks but also strengthen long-term strategies to prevent exploitation and uphold children’s rights. By the conclusion of the workshop, participants reached consensus on several key revisions, including:
- clearer and expanded definitions of hazardous activities
- stronger provisions for enforcing anti-child labor laws
- a call for broader consultations with survivors of child labor and stakeholders from emerging industries.
Next Steps
The Technical Working Group Secretariat will integrate these inputs into a proposed Department Order for presentation to the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council. Free the Slaves is honored to contribute to this process and remains committed to collaboration with government and civil society partners to strengthen policies that protect children from hazardous labor. We invite stakeholders and advocates to stay engaged and support the next steps toward adopting the revised guidelines.
