The Department of Labor and Employment has issued a new working guidelines for children, limiting the working hours for minors engaged in public entertainment such as television shows to four hours in any given day and not more than 20 hours a week.
Under the new guidelines, a child is not also allowed to work between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said children below the age of 15 are not allowed to be employed in any public or private establishment except when they work directly under the sole responsibility of their parents or guardian or when their participation in public entertainment or public information is essential.
Department Order No. 65-04 defines public entertainment or information as “artistic, literary, and cultural performances for television show, radio program, cinema or film, theater, commercial advertisement, public relations activities or campaigns, print materials, internet and other media.”
In any of the exceptions, the employer, parent or guardian should first secure working child permit from DoLE before engaging the services of the child.
“Working Child Permit is required if the child will be engaged in public entertainment or information, whether local or overseas, and regardless of the child’s role in a project,” the Labor chief said.
A permit is also needed if the child will be featured in documentary materials unless it is a school-related project; and will be engaged as regular extra as part of a crowd and is included in the script or storyboard.
The said permit is also required for a foreign-child national who will be engaged in public entertainment in the Philippines.
The work permit shall be filed by the employer, parent or legal guardian at the DoLE Field Offices having jurisdiction over the workplace of the child at least three days prior to the shooting, taping, and event.