As the world marks the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, a joint report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that 138 million children globally were trapped in child labour as of 2024.
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According to the report released on Wednesday, while there has been some progress compared to previous years, a staggering 54 million children remain involved in hazardous work that puts their health, safety, and development at serious risk.
“Today, nearly 138 million children are in child labour worldwide, down from 160 million four years ago,” the report stated. “There are over 100 million fewer children in child labour today than in 2000, even as the child population increased by 230 million over the same period.”
Although the numbers show a gradual decline, the pace of change has not been fast enough to meet the global target of ending child labour by 2025. Since 2020, child labour has declined by more than 20 million, yet the report emphasized that the world needs to accelerate efforts by a factor of 11 to meet this goal.
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The ILO and UNICEF acknowledged that progress was achieved despite fears that the COVID-19 pandemic would cause a major reversal. “The feared deterioration following the pandemic did not materialize, and the world has succeeded in returning to a path of progress,” the report noted.
Key policy recommendations to eliminate child labour include ensuring access to free, high-quality education, facilitating smooth transitions from school to decent employment, and enhancing legal protections aligned with international standards. The report also stresses the importance of integrating child labour policies into broader economic and development strategies.
“Targeted policies must go hand in hand with macroeconomic planning, labour reforms, and sectoral strategies,” the report added. “We have the blueprint for success — now is the time to act to free future generations from child labour.”
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With over 100 million children rescued from labour in the last two decades, the report strikes a hopeful yet urgent tone, emphasizing that while progress is possible, global commitment must be unwavering if the world hopes to eradicate child labour by the 2025 deadline.
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