Sustaining the Elimination of Child Labour in Small-Scale Mining Communities in Camarines Norte Through an Enhanced Vocational Skills Training and Micro-Enterprise Programme

Summary The proposed project will build on the experiences and lessons from ILO’s initiatives in Camarines Norte since 2000. This will involve the right mix of appropriate interventions anchored on a poverty reduction strategy to effectively address child labour in the context of small-scale mining. It will provide appropriate training to increase the viability of selected family micro-enterprises. Capital formation strategies, including the provision of seed capital and regular business development services will supplement the training. Furthermore, a review of the vocational training and job placement programmes to be spearheaded by TESDA and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and in close collaboration with the PCLC will be undertaken to better reflect labour market conditions and opportunities and consequently, to effectively place graduates in gainful employment. At least 20 child labourers who were given vocational training under previous ILO projects but who remain unemployed and an additional 20 to be selected under an established set of criteria will benefit from the results of this review process. All these children will also undergo a series of career counseling sessions and will benefit from an enhanced job placement programme that will ensure that a significant number of them successfully progress towards decent work. To achieve the objectives of this project, the following strategies will focus on: 1) capacity building and expanding access to capital and micro-insurance; and 2) facilitating transition to decent work through the enhanced vocational training and job placement program. The micro-enterprise projects of at least 20 parents who benefited from previous ILO projects, who are experiencing difficulties and are in danger of failing would be provided follow up support through training and seed capital. To ensure fairness and transparency, ILO together with the LGUs and the families will together develop the criteria and subject these to the approval of concerned stakeholders. Once adopted, a Technical Working Group consisting of ILO and designated representatives from the LGUs and the families will be organized and tasked to undertake the screening process. The TWG will be lodged with the Provincial Child Labor Committee (PCLC) and will take guidance and advice from the body in all matters relating to the selection process and also during the implementation phase. Gender concerns will be mainstreamed throughout the selection process to ensure that there is sex-balanced participation and that specific interventions to address gender-related disadvantages are considered. The TWG will fully disclose the results of the screening of recipients and will announce the chosen micro-enterprises at the appropriate place and time. The TWG thereafter undertakes an assessment to determine the training needs of the concerned parents/micro-entrepreneurs. A capacity building program will then be developed and implemented, which will use ILO tools on entrepreneurship development e.g. Generate/Start/Improve Your Business modules. Since seed capital is limited, the TWG will evaluate its disbursement - i.e., whether to give it directly to the families or use it as leverage with micro-finance institutions (MFIs). The TWG will work closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in actively pursuing efforts to link the micro-enterprises with MFIs to access bigger capitalization and crucial business development services. This strategy also entails facilitating change in mindsets and attitudes of the families to value social protection not only as a means to help them get over emergencies and contingencies but also to improve the quality of their lives. To achieve this, ILO and national experts, insurance providers and other public and private institutions that provide or implement any type of social protection, particularly micro-insurance services will orient the families on th

Project symbol

PHI/08/01/FIN

Admin unit

CO-Manila

Start date

01/01/2008

End date

30/07/2009

Total allocation

20672

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

20672

Development Partners

Finland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Country/Countries

Philippines

Outcomes

Child Labour