Title
DOLE Order on Hazardous Work for Minors
Law
Dole Department Order No. 04
Decision Date
Sep 21, 1999
The Department Order No. 004-99 prohibits the employment of individuals below 18 years of age in hazardous work and activities, with specific guidelines on the types of work considered hazardous, enforcement responsibilities, and exceptions for domestic service and children below 15 years of age.

Q&A (DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 04)

The guidelines are issued pursuant to Article 139(c), Book III of the Labor Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 7658, and its implementing rules and regulations, as well as amendments to Republic Act No. 7610.

The employment of persons below 18 years of age in hazardous or deleterious work is prohibited to protect their health, safety, and moral development.

Generally, children below 15 years of age are prohibited from employment except in tasks that do not endanger their life, safety, health, and morals, and in compliance with Republic Act No. 7658.

Hazardous work includes exposure to physical, psychological, or sexual abuse (e.g., in bars, cabarets); work underground, underwater, or at dangerous heights; work with dangerous machinery; work in unhealthy environments exposing them to toxic or harmful substances; and work under difficult conditions like long hours or night shifts.

Yes, but subject to the limitations specified for hazardous work, ensuring that such work does not endanger their welfare.

Leud shows such as stripteasers, cabarets, KTV bars, dance halls, massage clinics, escort services, gambling halls, and similar places.

Operating heavy equipment like payloaders, bulldozers, cranes, motor-driven saws, presses, wood-working machines, and power-driven tools such as drills and jack hammers.

Environments involving hazardous chemicals, pharmaceuticals, toxic substances, excessive noise or vibration, hospitals, laboratories with x-rays, fumigation, and battery recycling.

Labor standards enforcement officers of the Department of Labor and Employment are tasked to use these guidelines to monitor compliance with labor laws related to child labor.

The rest of the guidelines that are not affected will remain in full force and effect as stated in the Separability Clause.


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