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Rapid Appraisal of Child Labor in the Tobacco Industry: Case Studies in Two Ilocos Provinces, 2002
The general objective of the research is to produce a bird's eye view of child labor in tobacco production within the provinces of Ilocos Sur and La Union. The study aims to: 1) estimate the incidence of child workers in Ilocos Sur and La Union; 2) describe the situation of child workers in selected areas; 3) document existing programs addressing child labor among governmental and non-governmental agencies in the two provinces; and 4) identify possible areas for program intervention. The study was conducted in two barangays each from the municipalities of Candon, Ilocos Sur and Balaoan, La Union from mid-November 2001 to February 2002. The researchers used combination of methods such as: a) a review of documents on child labor, b) key informant interviews, c) focus group discussion, d) drawings and stories by selected child workers from two barangays, and e) case studies of seven selected child workers across barangays. The result of the study shows that the utilization of the lab or of young children below the age of 15 is a common experience in the tobacco farms of La Union and Ilocos Sur. Children are taught at young ages (from 4 years of age) to help their parents, older siblings and other relatives in doing simple tasks related to tobacco production, such as watering the plants, sticking the tobacco on bamboo poles (panag- tudok) and weeding. They are engaged in more difficult activities as they grow older. Work assigned to children is not always time-consuming and they are able to finish their tasks before they go to school and upon their return in the afternoons. However, on week-ends and during school vacations, they may work for as long as 10 hours. The remuneration derived from children's work is low, given the fact that they are usually given only 20 pesos for part-time work, a figure far below the average nominal wages of adult workers, which was determined to be P 141.00 per day in Region I in March 2001. It was also determined that, at th e time of the study, there was no program of government that directly addressed the issue of child labor in the tobacco industry within Region I. Four major recommendations emerged from the research. First, it was suggested that an intensive campaign to generate awareness on the situation of child workers in the tobacco industry be undertaken. Second, a more comprehensive research on child labor in tobacco farming is needed in the Ilocos Region, in order to determine the incidence, work patterns and impacts of child labor in the tobacco industry. Third, strategies and directions to immediately alleviate the situation of child workers and to guarantee respect for their rights need to be undertaken. Finally, in order to minimize the need for child participation in tobacco production, government needs to construct more elementary schools in the barangays, extend economic assistance to tobacco farmers, and encourage them to diversify their crops in order to secure household incomes. 
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