Child Labor: 138 Million Still Working | Global Issues
- Despite progress, a recent report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEF reveals that an estimated 138 million children worldwide are still trapped in child labor.
- The report highlights that child labor, which deprives children of their childhood and jeopardizes their health and development, is frequently enough driven by poverty.
- The ILO and UNICEF emphasize that addressing child labor requires a holistic approach that tackles poverty, promotes education, and ensures safe working conditions for adults.
A staggering 138 million children are still trapped in child labour globally, a pressing issue highlighted in a recent report by the ILO and UNICEF. This report unveils the harsh reality of children deprived of their childhood, often working in hazardous conditions and driven by poverty. The primary_keyword, child labor, and the secondary_keyword, poverty, are at the core of this complex problem. The ILO and UNICEF are championing integrated solutions, including tackling poverty, promoting education, and ensuring safe working conditions. News Directory 3 brings you this critical update,emphasizing the urgent need for increased funding to protect these vulnerable children. Discover how you can contribute to eradicating child labor and ensuring a brighter future for all. Then, discover what’s next …
Millions of Children Still Engaged in Child Labor, UNICEF and ILO Report Finds
Updated June 11, 2025
Despite progress, a recent report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEF reveals that an estimated 138 million children worldwide are still trapped in child labor. The report underscores the urgent need to accelerate efforts to eliminate this practice, particularly in hazardous work environments.
The report highlights that child labor, which deprives children of their childhood and jeopardizes their health and development, is frequently enough driven by poverty. Children like Tenasoa in Madagascar, who works in the mica industry, and Honorine in Benin, who toils in a gravel quarry, are forced to contribute to their families’ survival.
The ILO and UNICEF emphasize that addressing child labor requires a holistic approach that tackles poverty, promotes education, and ensures safe working conditions for adults. They also note the importance of country-driven solutions, given the regional disparities in child labor, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for two-thirds of cases.
Federico Blanco, ILO expert and lead author of the Child Labour Report, said, “Behind every number, let’s remind ourselves that there is a child whose right to education, protection and decent future is being denied.”
Benjamin Smith, an ILO child labor expert, said, “The ILO looks at [child labour] in quite a holistic way because it is just as meaningful [for] tackling child labour to make sure that the adults have good working conditions because poverty is realy at the heart of child labour.”
What’s next
The ILO and UNICEF are calling for increased funding and integrated policy solutions to combat child labor. They stress the importance of ensuring that children are in classrooms and playgrounds, not at work, and that families have the economic means to support their children’s education and well-being.