Global Child Labour Remains Stubborn at 138 Million, ILO Warns

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has raised alarm over the continued prevalence of child labour worldwide, revealing that 138 million children are still engaged in work that harms their health, education and development.

The figure was disclosed by ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo at the opening of the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, hosted by Morocco in collaboration with the UN agency. He described the situation as “simply unacceptable,” warning that the persistence of child labour represents not only a moral failure but also a long-term economic setback for societies.

Mr Houngbo said 61 per cent of child labour occurs in agriculture, with girls now outnumbering boys in several regions, a shift he said carries serious consequences for education outcomes and future opportunities.

Progress recorded, but global targets missed

Although some regions have recorded progress, the ILO said gains remain uneven and insufficient to meet global commitments. Asia and the Pacific achieved a 43 per cent reduction in child labour cases, while Latin America and the Caribbean recorded an 11 per cent decline. Sub-Saharan Africa saw a 10 per cent reduction, but still accounts for the highest share of child labour globally.

Mr Houngbo acknowledged that the world failed to meet the 2025 Sustainable Development Goal target of ending child labour, noting that stronger action is now urgently required.

He stressed that prevention must remain the core strategy, particularly in rural areas and among younger children, adding that education remains the most effective long-term solution. According to him, the world will need an additional 80 million primary school places by 2050, alongside better pay and working conditions for teachers.

He also identified rural development, infrastructure investment, school feeding programmes and the formalisation of small enterprises as essential to reducing families’ reliance on children’s labour.

UN urges tougher laws and business accountability

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the failure to meet global child labour targets highlights deeper structural challenges, including poverty, inequality and lack of decent work.

She said ending child labour must be embedded in broader development strategies that prioritize quality education, skills development and inclusive labour markets that help young people transition from school into safe employment.

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Mrs Mohammed recalled commitments made at the Doha World Summit for Social Development, stressing that governments must strengthen enforcement frameworks and hold violators accountable.

She also urged businesses to audit their supply chains and eliminate child labour from production processes, warning that private sector complicity continues to undermine global efforts.

Both officials emphasised that progress depends on sustained cooperation among governments, employers, workers and international institutions, describing multilateral action as a practical necessity rather than an abstract ideal.

Despite the setbacks, the ILO said coordinated investments in education, social protection and labour reform could still reverse current trends and place the world back on track toward eliminating child labour.