UN urges urgent action as countries fall short on child labour erudition goal

THE United Nations has called for accelerated global action to end child labour, warning that the world will miss its collective commitment to eradicate the practice by 2025. The appeal was made during the “Childhood with Dignity” meeting, where leaders and experts gathered to address one of the most persistent human rights challenges of our time.

Despite notable progress, 86 million fewer children are now in child labour compared to the year 2000. UN officials acknowledged that current efforts have fallen far short of meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 target. This goal mandates the elimination of child labour in all its forms by 2025.

UN General Assembly President, Philemon Yang, opened the session with a call for urgent and focused action. He emphasised the need to confront the root causes of child labour, including poverty, weak enforcement of child protection laws, and lack of access to quality education. Yang underscored the importance of fair wage laws, investments in children living in remote and underserved areas, and the urgent protection of children from being recruited into armed conflict.

International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo echoed the concern, reminding participants that abolishing child labour is a fundamental right at work. He warned that rising inequality, geopolitical instability, and global uncertainty are further threatening the foundation of decent work and children’s rights worldwide.

The dialogue also spotlighted two landmark ILO conventions: the Minimum Age Convention (C138) and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (C182), the latter of which has been ratified universally. Yet, despite the existence of strong legal frameworks, many countries continue to struggle with enforcement, implementation, and closing protection gaps.

“It is clear that we will not meet the SDG target by 2025. This is deeply troubling,” Houngbo stated. “We cannot build inclusive societies or achieve shared prosperity if millions of children are still being denied their rights to education and a safe childhood.”

Participants called for the full implementation of ILO conventions, improved data collection and policy analysis, and stronger integration of child labour concerns into national education, social protection, and employment strategies. They also emphasised that securing decent work for parents is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty that fuels child labour.

There was a resounding demand for universal access to free, quality basic education and early childhood development, along with stricter measures to prevent the exploitation of children in supply chains and armed conflict.

Partnerships and collective action were highlighted as essential to raising awareness, sharing innovative practices, mobilising resources, and coordinating efforts across all levels of governance.

According to the most recent data from the ILO and UNICEF, 160 million children: 63 million girls and 97 million boys—were engaged in child labour at the beginning of 2020. Alarmingly, nearly half of them, about 79 million, were involved in hazardous work that endangers their physical and moral well-being.

Meanwhile, the ILO and UNICEF are set to release the updated 2025 Global Estimates of Child Labour report on 11 June, which is expected to further inform and galvanise global action.

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