Child domestic workers in the Philippines: a living experience
Quezon City, Philippines
Visayan Forum Foundation and the International Labor Office, 2001
ISBN No. 92-2-112697-8

Abstract

This book is the first comprehensive attempt to document the experiences of the Visayan Forum Foundation, an ILO-IPEC partner in addressing the much-neglected and invisible plight of child domestic workers in the Philippines.

The first two parts examine the phenomenon of employing children in domestic work. They detail the profile of these children vis a vis the cultural context and existing legal framework. They also capture an up close re-examination of the roles and expectations child domestic workers exchange with employers, their ambiguous role as family members, and their social construct as the dutiful children.

The third part adds value in the present attempts to develop replicable strategies for child domestic work intervention. The authors reflect on the development of VF's living approaches in the areas of direct services, education, organizing, training for resiliency, social advocacy, lobby work, and prevention. In particular, they deepen on the lessons learned in the holistic approach in prevention, protection, withdrawal and reintegration as part of direct work. They also highlight unconventional strategies in reaching out to scattered child domestic workers. There are also particularities in building the capacity of the domestic workers' sector. Finally, the authors significantly explore lessons learned in influencing significant influencers (especially employers, church groups, media, and child domestic workers themselves) enhanced by a solid legislative proposal called Batas Kasambahay.

The last part connects the issue of child domestic work to justice, trafficking, child labor, education, gender, research, and development. It is also rich in recommendations to specific groups and institutions. For more details, and to order a copy of the book, contact:

The Advocacy Officer
Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc.