Parents of child content creators including vloggers, bloggers, and child entertainers can only use 20% of their child’s earnings for family expenses, while 80% must be set aside for the child’s education, healthcare, and overall welfare, under a labor advisory recently issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino explained the details in an interview on DZRH News program The Situation Report on Thursday, September 10, describing the advisory as a response to cases of child exploitation in the growing content creation industry.
The President’s Labor chief said children 15 years old and below who earn income through vlogging, blogging, entertainment, or endorsements are covered by the advisory, which also prohibits them from working between 10 PM and 6 AM.
“Kung ikaw ay parent, kailangan ito ang sundin mo: 20% ng kinikita ng bata ang pwedeng panggastos ng pamilya. Ang 80% dapat nandoon sa kanyang pang-eskwela, pang-ospital, sa well-being niya. Hindi siya pwedeng magtrabaho ng alas-diyes ng gabi hanggang alas-sais ng umaga,” Tolentino said.
Tolentino said companies in the entertainment industry that use child performers for endorsements on television and radio are also required to secure a permit from DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment before engaging any child worker.
The Labor chief said the advisory carries compliance expectations and is not merely advisory in the colloquial sense, saying International Labour Organization or ILO requirements on child labor were among the motivations for issuing it.
He said the advisory was well-received and has already helped address several cases where children in the content industry were being exploited, with parents taking a disproportionate share of their children’s earnings rather than securing their futures.
