Baguio orders nighttime child labor checks
An ordinance was passed to ensure the protection of minors and the safety of night workers.
Daily TribuneAn ordinance was passed to ensure the protection of minors and the safety of night workers.
Baguio City —- The city government will strictly require all business establishments with entertainers or night workers to have their employees submit authenticated copies of their birth certificates.
An ordinance, which will take effect on 21 September, was passed to ensure the protection of minors and the safety of night workers. It amended Ordinance 102-2003, which only required establishments to submit a true copy or authenticated copy of their workers' birth certificates.
Establishments with entertainers or night workers must also have a true or authenticated copy of their workers' birth certificates kept on file for purposes of inspections in compliance with their working permit applications in the city.
Likewise, establishments were ordered not to employ any entertainer or night worker without an authenticated copy of his or her birth certificate being presented and submitted.
Employees or applicants must present the birth certificate to the Reproductive Health and Wellness Center of the City Health Services Office during their registration for work in night establishments.
Baguio officials said the ordinance was passed to eradicate the worst form of child labor, to afford stronger protection to working children, and to monitor the employment of minors in all business establishments with entertainers or night workers.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera, the Department of Labor and Employment Cordillera, and the Baguio City Police Office will be allowed to exercise visitorial powers to enforce the ordinance.
They may interview every employee in the establishment to determine their true ages and identify and require the presentation of their health records.
In the exercise of their visitorial powers, the agencies must consult the National Privacy Commission at all times in order to protect the personal information of employees in all business establishments with entertainers or night workers as provided under Republic Act 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act.
The ordinance was passed by the Baguio City Council with a unanimous vote.
