World Day Against Child Labour

What Is World Day Against Child Labour?

June 12 marks "World Day Against Child Labour," established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2002. The day aims to raise global awareness of the reality of child labour that persists around the world and to encourage action toward its elimination.

The State of Child Labour Worldwide

According to ILO estimates, around 160 million children worldwide are currently engaged in some form of labour, and about 79 million of them are involved in "the worst forms of child labour," which endanger their health, safety, or moral development (as of 2020). These forms range across agriculture, mining, domestic work, and recruitment into armed conflict.

Why Does Child Labour Persist?

Poverty, lack of access to education, inadequate social safety nets, and discrimination all intertwine to perpetuate the problem. The ILO advocates that "education, not labour, is an investment in the future," and works with governments, businesses, and civil society around the world to address the issue. This day is also an opportunity to consider how the products we use every day are made.