A new report released on Wednesday by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that an estimated 138 million children were engaged in child labour globally in 2024. This is against the backdrop of the International Labour Day celebrated annually on June 12.
The figure marks a drop from 160 million recorded four years ago, reflecting modest progress in tackling the scourge.
However, the agencies expressed concern that 54 million of these children remain trapped in hazardous forms of labour that pose serious risks to their health, safety, and development.
“Today, nearly 138 million children are in child labour worldwide, down from 160 million four years ago. There are over 100 million fewer children in child labour today than in 2000, even as the child population increased by 230 million over the same period,” the report noted.
The findings underline the need for renewed commitment from governments, global institutions, and communities to eliminate child labour, particularly as economic hardship, conflict, and weak enforcement of labour laws continue to drive children into exploitative work.
The World Day Against Child Labour, observed annually on June 12, aims to raise awareness and foster action to end child labour in all its forms.
