Global Child Labour Declines but Pace Far Too Slow, Says ILO-UNICEF

A joint report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), released ahead of the 2025 World Day Against Child Labour (June 12), reveals that an estimated 138 million children were involved in child labour globally in 2024. Of this number, 54 million were subjected to hazardous conditions that endanger their health, safety, and development.

While the report notes a decline from the 160 million recorded in 2020, and more than 100 million fewer children in child labour compared to the year 2000, it also acknowledges that the global community has fallen short of its goal to end child labour by 2025.

The findings emphasize that although there has been some progress—especially following the spike in child labour during the COVID-19 pandemic—efforts must be intensified. To meet the global eradication target, the pace of progress would need to be accelerated elevenfold.

Highlighting key strategies, the report calls for policies that include access to free, quality education, legal protections aligned with international standards, and programs to ease the transition from school to decent work for older adolescents. These approaches are deemed essential not only to ending child labour but also to integrating child protection into broader economic and social planning.

Despite the challenges, the report offers a measure of hope: with the right combination of policies, adequate resources, and strong political will, ending child labour remains achievable.

The UN urged governments and global stakeholders to act decisively, stating, “We have the blueprint for success—now is the time to act to free future generations from child labour.”