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With rise of young children making names on social media, many of them turning into instant online celebrities, the government said they should seek work permit to safeguard them from child labor.
DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino has said that children below 15 are generally prohibited by law from working, as per Republic Act No. 9231. The law seeks to eliminate worst forms of child labor and protects working children.
The law which will be applied is similar to those children who work in public entertainment such as television, theater, advertisement, and online platforms; as the rules and regulations was expounded through Labor Advisory No. 12 series of 2026 – hence, now apply to digital platforms.
“Children below 15 who participate in content creation for online posting may need a working permit if the child or the activity falls within the coverage of the Department’s existing guidelines on working children,” part of the DOLE advisory reads.
Parents or guardian, it said, are responsible in complying with the DOLE regulation and ensure that the content that they are engage on or their outputs comply with law.
“The advisory reinforces the continuing efforts to strengthen the protection and welfare of children by ensuring that those who participate in media and online content do so under conditions that safeguard their rights, education, health, and over-all wellbeing.”
The advisory covers content published through streaming platforms, social media, vlogs, digital advertisements, web series, podcasts, educational content, and other emerging forms of media.
It added that the “public entertainment or information” covers artistic, literary, and cultural performances and productions distributed through television, radio, cinema, theater, print, and the internet.
Sources: Manila Bulletin, PhilStar, GizGuide
