Despite the world making steady progress in reducing child labour since 2000, conflicts, crises and the COVID-19 pandemic, have plunged more families into poverty, forcing millions of children into child labour. Today, 160 million children are still engaged in child labour as the World Day against Child Labour was observed on June 12.
This year, World Day against Child Labour takes the theme, Social Justice for All. End Child Labour! . ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo calls on the international community to support greater social justice and step up the fight against such labour.
On this day, the International Labour Organisation said that economic growth has not been sufficient, nor inclusive enough, to relieve the pressure that too many families and communities feel and that makes them resort to labour.
DISASTROUS
The ILO said child labour is on the rise for the first time in 20 years. Child labour is – possibly – the most visible of these problems. This is caused by and perpetuates poverty and exclusion. It deprives kids of education and opportunity and stacks the odds against their securing a decent income and stable employment as adults.
It is an injustice that is felt in most cases at the level of households and families—two-thirds of labour of kids occurs as a contributing family member. But it holds back economic growth of entire countries and can be linked to rising inequality in many parts of the world. It is a threat to social cohesion and human progress.
WHAT DOES ILO RECOMMEND?
- Reinvigorated international action to achieve social justice, particularly under the envisaged Global Coalition for Social Justice, with child labour elimination as one of its important elements;
- Universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age, which, together with the universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour achieved in 2020, would provide all children with legal protection against all forms of child labour; and the
- Effective implementation of the Durban Call to Action. The Durban Call to Action was adopted at the 5th Global Conference for the Elimination of Child Labour in 2022. It is a blueprint for turning the tide against child labour using every available economic, political and social lever. It seeks to ensure that child labour is prioritized in national and global policymaking and activities, in development cooperation and in financial, trade and investment agreements.
WHEN DID IT START?
The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the first World Day Against Child Labour in 2002. It started to highlight the plight of children engaged in child labour. Observed on June 12th, the day is intended to serve as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labour.
