JUVENILE AT RISKS: PRECARIOUS SITUATION OF CHILD SEX WORKERS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

Abstract

Child labor is one of the Philippines' most crucial problems, and emanates from a range of economic and social factors. This research was undertaken to describe the precarious situation of child sex workers in Cebu, Davao, Manila, and Pampanga who are in the tourism industry. Rooted on the Push-Pull factors theory and a descriptive design, it utilized an archival data-gathering method. The data were compiled from the researches done previously on child labor in the tourism industry in the Philippines that included 1046 respondents from the four provinces. Findings revealed that as they work in the establishments and streets, many of these child sex workers are 17 years old (49%), Catholic (88%), female (64%), born in the city/municipality where they work (38%), eldest child in the family (33%), have 3-4 siblings, and are living with their families (48%). A big bulk (67%) of them work to give financial support to help their families or they want to earn easy money. A good number (36%) of them work in bars/pub houses/nightclubs/gay bars/discos, and as entertainers (37%). The higher paid child sex worker earn an average of Php 900.00 per day. At the extreme high end, a few earned an average of Php 5,000 a night but their average daily earnings is only Php 400. Seven hundred-two (51%) are happy with their present jobs, while 678 (49%) also experience pain as they work. All child sex workers covered in the study were offered some form of assistance from the government, NGO’s, the Church, and school, like scholarship, jobs, and livelihood, but only 440 or 42% of them were ready to accept help. The process of reducing, if not eliminating, child labor is a vision that requires the commitment and cooperation of the government, employers, trade unions, and other sectors of society.