ABK3 LEAP. Livelihoods, Education, Advocacy and Protection to Reduce Child Labor in Sugarcane Areas

Transcription

1 ABK3 LEAP Livelihoods, Education, Advocacy and Protection to Reduce Child Labor in Sugarcane Areas SU G A R IS SWE E TE R WITHO UT C HILD LA BO R. Funding for this project is provided by the US Department of Labor under Cooperative Agreement No: IL K

2 TARGET AREAS Luzon: Batangas & Camarines Sur Visayas: Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental & Negros Oriental Mindanao: Bukidnon, Davao del Sur & North Cotabato CRITERIA USED sugarcane production number of farms annual per capita poverty threshold (2009) poverty incidence among population magnitude of poor families net enrollment elementary survival rate (drop outs) elementary classroom-pupil ratio rural population

3 ABK3 LEAP aims to reduce exploitative child labor in sugarcane areas in the Philippines by implementing a multi-sector approach through: direct educational and livelihoods services and linkages for 52,000 children and 25,000 households strengthening capacity of local and national institutions policy advocacy, awareness raising, leveraging government & private sector partner commitment research to provide reliable data on child labor in sugarcane

4 OCCUPATIONAL RISKS: Child Labor in Sugarcane Farms

5 In most cases, child labor in agriculture is invisible, unprotected and unregulated. Child workers in agriculture are exposed to more serious occupational health and safety risks. The challenge is how to eliminate hazardous child labor and identify what farm activities are allowable and not allowable for children.

6 WHAT OCCUPATIONAL RISKS DO CHILDREN EXPERIENCE IN DOING DIFFERENT FARM TASKS?

7 LAND PREPARATION AND PLANTING FARM ACTIVITIES Land Clearing Plowing the Field Canal Trashing Preparing cane tops for planting Burning prior to planting Planting OCCUPATIONAL RISKS Carrying heavy farm tools Difficulty controlling the carabao/ plow; Strenuous work Difficulty in handling heavy tools; Exposure to parasites/ bacteria; Snake and insect bites Injuries from use of sharp farm tools and sharp sugarcane points Inhaling burning fumes; Uncontrolled fires Prolonged bending position; Snake and insect bites; Exposure to parasites/ bacteria

8 CULTIVATION FARM ACTIVITIES Weeding Applying fertilizer and pesticides Burning sugarcane prior to harvesting OCCUPATIONAL RISKS Injuries caused by sharp tools (skin cutes, cut off fingers, foot hit by falling tools); Repetitive movement while weeding Carrying heavy chemical sprayer and fertilizer containers; Applying agrochemicals using bare hands; Skin contact with chemicals and its residues; Inhaling chemical residues Inhaling burning fumes; Uncontrolled fires; Burn injuries

9 HARVESTING FARM ACTIVITIES Cutting sugarcane Peeling off sugarcane leaves Gathering and piling sugarcane Carrying and loading sugarcane bundles into trucks Driving trucks/ tractors OCCUPATIONAL RISKS Injuries sharp and heavy farm tools; Repetitive and forceful movement Cuts from sharp sugarcane leaves and sharp tools; Skin irritation from sugarcane leaves; Insect bites Cuts and bruises; Prolonged repetitive movement Carrying heavy load (often more than 50% of the children s body weight); Climbing, slips and falls from narrow and slippery footbridge (1.5 to 2M high); Night work for hauling sugarcane; Prolonged repetitive carrying/ loading movement Vehicular accidents

10 UNSAFE AND ISOLATED WORK ENVIRONMENT DOING EXTRA WORK

11 WORKING IN SUGARCANE FARMS Exposure to extreme changing weather conditions without proper protection Accidents due to improper storage of tools; use of heavy and sharp tools Absence of potable water source near worksite Strenuous work Walking alone amidst tall and vast sugarcane fields Absence of farm based facilities: toilet, rest areas, first aid provisions Stomach problems due to missed meals

12

13 TYPES OF OCCUPATIONAL RISKS PHYSICAL ERGONOMIC BIOLOGICAL Prolonged exposure to extreme and changing weather conditions resulting to headaches, dehydration and fatigue Heat stress Cuts and bruises from sharp sugarcane leaves, stalks and points Respiratory disorders Burns caused by uncontrolled fires Nutritional imbalances and digestive system problems Carrying heavy load (farm tools/ equipments, sugarcane bundles) beyond the children's capacity (50% to 100% of bodyweight) causing body aches, fatigue and muscle sprain Tools used are too heavy for a child to carry Repetitive and forceful movements resulting to musculo-skeletal disorders Prolonged and sustained bended position resulting to back pain Illnesses caused by parasites and bacteria from water, soil, and air Illnesses from exposure to environmental elements (insects, scorpion, snakes) Illnesses and injuries caused by farm animals

14 CHEMICAL SAFETY TYPES OF OCCUPATIONAL RISKS Inhalation of and skin contact with agrochemicals causing central nervous system effects (e.g., dizziness/ fainting) Lingering presence of pesticide residues in the work environment Inhalation of burning fumes Skin rashes/allergies Fall and slippage from narrow and slippery footbridges leading to trucks (1.5 to 2 meters high) Accidents and injuries caused by use of sharp and heavy farm tools and its improper storage Night work that lead to fatigue Illnesses and injuries due to inadequate facilities for safety and sanitation (potable water, toilet, rest areas and first aid materials) Vehicular accidents while riding tractors/ trucks to transport sugarcane PSYCHOSOCIAL Long work hours resulting to chronic fatigue Limited leisure activities and rest periods that cause emotional stress Possibility of child abuse, including sexual abuse

15 Occupational risks are of different intensity, consequences and likelihood (ILO, 2010).

16 LEVELS OF OCCUPATIONAL RISKS High risk/ Hazardous Moderate risk Low risk Can lead to disabling health effects on children which may adversely affect their growth and development as productive adults. Continued exposure can cause more permanent damage or illness. Some of the effects may also manifest in later years. Can lead to short term injuries and ailments that have no long term health effects and do not affect quality of life or longevity, provided that proper medical treatment is availed of. Can cause minor health effects that are nonlife threatening and are reversible; adverse effects can be minimized by altering the work conditions and by using protective measures.

17 CLASSIFICATION & CONSEQUENCES OF FARM ACTIVITIES High risk/ Hazardous Moderate risk Low risk Cutting sugarcane Hauling and carrying sugarcane bundles Loading sugarcane into trucks Application of agrochemicals Burning of sugarcane fields Driving tractors/ trucks Plowing the fields Weeding Preparing sugarcane tops for planting Canal trashing Peeling off sugarcane leaves Planting Gathering and piling of sugarcane stalks Falls and slippage that cause skeletal dysfunction Recurring illnesses associated with low body resistance Over exhaustion/ chronic fatigue Illnesses that are left untreated like ulcers, kidney problems, wound infection, tuberculosis, muscular dysfunction Inhalation/ absorption of toxic substances Limb amputation or permanent disability Health conditions that hamper normal child development Cuts and lacerations Dislocated joints/ fractures Fatigue Back aches/ Muscle pains Snake bites Skin diseases Minor Illnesses from exposure to biohazards Cuts and bruises Headache and fever Skin rashes Insect bites

18 What should be done to build a safer and more responsive environment for our children?

19 STOP hazardous child labor in sugarcane farms! The content of this presentation is based on the research findings of OSH and Hazardous Child Labor in Sugarcane Farms (2014). ABK3 LEAP: Sugar is sweeter without child