A TikTok video re-uploaded by the Facebook page ‘Uniteam Bbm-Sara’ listed a series of claims that sought to compare how the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos addressed several issues during his term, to how his successors fared. At the 00:29 mark in the TikTok video, it claimed that Marcos banned child labor during his term, an issue other presidents supposedly failed to address.

RATING:

FALSE

FACTS:

Contrary to the video’s claim, Marcos himself issued Presidential Decree (PD) 148 in 1973, which legally allowed children aged 14-18 years to work.

Since 1948, the Philippines has been a part of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which passed the Minimum Age Convention in 1973. Instead of pushing the Philippine government to ratify the 15-year-old minimum age set by the convention, Marcos issued PD 148 which set the minimum age of employment at 14 to supposedly curb the economic decline during that time.

By 1974, PD 148 was amended with the enactment of Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines, which raised the age of employment from 14 years to 15 years, in compliance with the ILO. However, the Labor Code did not contain enough terms and conditions that could sufficiently protect children from prematurely entering the workforce.

The Philippines only ratified the ILO Minimum Age Convention in 1998, 12 years after Marcos was ousted.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

Not one Philippine administration has effectively abolished child labor. In a paper released by the US Department of Labor in 2019, it was noted that while the Philippines made “moderate advancement” in tackling child labor, with the country being able to enact several laws and regulations addressing the issue in the past years, child labor remains prevalent, as a result of poor law enforcement and worsening economic conditions. –Maez Estrada and Joseph Gloria

Altermidya Network is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, email info@factsfirst.ph.

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