Child Labour: Millions of Children Still Working Worldwide
On World Day Against Child Labour, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) revealed that approximately 138 million children worldwide were engaged in child labour this year. The announcement was made during the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Gilbert Houngbo, the ILO’s Director-General, shared these findings, noting that 54 million of these children are trapped in hazardous work—conditions that endanger their health, safety, and development. While there has been progress, with 22 million fewer child labourers since 2020, the global community has fallen short of its goal to eradicate child labour by 2025.
Houngbo emphasised that economic stability for families is key to reducing child labour. “Parents need decent work opportunities so they can support their households without relying on their children’s income,” he said. “Only then can we ensure children are in schools rather than working in fields, markets, or factories.”
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Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, echoed this sentiment, stressing that stronger legal protections, social welfare programmes, and free education are critical to ending child labour. According to the latest data:
Agriculture remains the largest employer of child labour (61%), including farming and livestock work. Services account for 27%, such as domestic labour and street vending. Industry makes up 13%, including mining and manufacturing.
Both the ILO and UNICEF urged governments to expand social safety nets, such as universal child benefits, to help vulnerable families avoid relying on child labour.
While the report highlights encouraging progress, it also serves as a stark reminder that millions of children remain deprived of their childhoods—a crisis demanding urgent action.
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Content Credit| Olaoluwa Ayomide
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