Nearly 138 million children worldwide were engaged in child labour in 2024, with 54 million of them involved in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety, and development, according to a joint report released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The report, published ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12 and the International Day of Play on June 11, reveals sobering statistics, even as it acknowledges some progress. Although child labour has declined by over 20 million since 2020, the world remains off track to meet the target of eliminating child labour by 2025.
Since the year 2000, the number of children in child labour has nearly halved, but the rate of progress is too slow. The report warns that to achieve the 2025 target, the current pace must accelerate by at least 11 times.
“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 global child population rose by 230 million over the same period.”
This improvement, the report notes, is largely due to proven policy strategies that, if expanded and properly implemented, could eliminate child labour altogether. These include providing free and high-quality education to offer viable alternatives to child labour, improving school-to-work transitions for adolescents, particularly those exposed to occupational hazards, and strengthening child labour laws in line with international standards.
The report also emphasizes the importance of integrating child labour concerns into wider economic and social development plans. It urges governments to mainstream child protection into macroeconomic policies, labour reforms, and sector-specific strategies.
“Ending child labour requires more than just targeted policies. It demands systemic change, political will, adequate funding, and the integration of child labour concerns into every aspect of policy-making,” the report concludes.
While the reduction in child labour is a step forward, the UN agencies stress that millions of children are still being denied their right to a safe and nurturing childhood. The call to action is clear: now is the time to commit fully to freeing future generations from the burden of child labour.
ADEOLA KUNLE
