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Child Labour

There are 160 million of children in child labour

Not all work performed by children is child labour. International standards define child labour as work that is hazardous to a child’s health and development, demands too many hours and/or is performed by children who are too young. Usually, child labour interferes with a child’s right to education and to play. This issue is at the core of the ILO mission. 

News and stories

Celebrating success in Malawi: A Call for action
Participants to a meeting pose for a group photo

Celebrating success in Malawi: A Call for action

31 governments, business and trade union organizations issue joint statement to eradicate child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean
declaração conjunta da Rede de Pontos Focais

31 governments, business and trade union organizations issue joint statement to eradicate child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean

Concert celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Child Labour Convention No. 182 with uplifting musical performance

Concert celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Child Labour Convention No. 182 with uplifting musical performance

ILO welcomes ASEAN steps to support migrant workers and prevent child labour
Migrant workers

ILO welcomes ASEAN steps to support migrant workers and prevent child labour

Collective bargaining in Uganda’s coffee supply chain
Representatives of NOTU and COFTU and their affiliates learn the importance of body language as part of a collective bargaining process, Kampala, 2024.

CLEAR Supply Chains project

Collective bargaining in Uganda’s coffee supply chain

Working hard - Spending less!
Myanmar: Working hard -Spending less

In their own words

Working hard - Spending less!

Publications

Assessing national status vis-à-vis SDG Target 8.7

Assessing national status vis-à-vis SDG Target 8.7

Framework for action on child labour 2023-2025
Framework for action on child labour Card

Framework for action on child labour 2023-2025

Ethical guidelines for research on child labour
Child labour Ethical Guidelines

Ethical guidelines for research on child labour

Meta-analysis of the effects of interventions on child labour
Meta-analysis of child labour

Meta-analysis of the effects of interventions on child labour

ILO IPEC+ Global Flagship Programme Implementation
IPEC+ Brochure Nov 2023 Card

ILO IPEC+ Global Flagship Programme Implementation

eLearning tools and courses on child labour

Reporting effectively on child labour
Reporting on child labour for media Card

For journalists

Reporting effectively on child labour

Data collection and research on child labour

For researchers and university students

Data collection and research on child labour

Child labour and agriculture
ILO FAO eLearning courses Card

ILO-FAO courses

Child labour and agriculture

End child labour - The masterclass paving the way forward
Adobe Stock/Maxximmm

Masterclass

End child labour - The masterclass paving the way forward

Understanding child labour and contributing to its elimination
eLearning Tool Labour Inspection Card

For Labour Inspectors and Child Labour Monitors

Understanding child labour and contributing to its elimination

Prevention and erradication of child labour in the agricultural sector in Argentina

Off-side project (Argentina)

Prevention and erradication of child labour in the agricultural sector in Argentina

E-learning Programme on Child Labour in Myanmar

My-PEC project (Myanmar)

E-learning Programme on Child Labour in Myanmar

Rights, responsibilities and representation for children, youth and families (3Rs) e-Learning

My-PEC project (Myanmar)

Rights, responsibilities and representation for children, youth and families (3Rs) e-Learning

Checkpoints for eliminating and preventing child labour: A mobile application against child labour
CL Checkpoints App Card

For companies

Checkpoints for eliminating and preventing child labour: A mobile application against child labour

Our impact, their voices
Children in Viet Nam

Video playlist

Our impact, their voices

Projects

CLEAR Supply Chains

Child labour and supply chains

CLEAR Supply Chains

RISE for Impact in the cotton supply chains
RISE for Impact project Card

FPRW in Supply Chains

RISE for Impact in the cotton supply chains

Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB)
GALAB project card

Child labour and forced labour

Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB)

Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa)
African children smile

Child labour and supply chains

Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa)

Myanmar Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (My-PEC)
Myanmar - Girl smiling (CL)

Child labour

Myanmar Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (My-PEC)

Capacity strengthening to address child labour, forced labour and work conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa (CAPSA)
Capsa Project page child labour

Child labour and forced labour

Capacity strengthening to address child labour, forced labour and work conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa (CAPSA)

Get involved!

Alliance 8.7 Global Partnership
Alliance 8.7 logo

Alliance 8.7 Global Partnership

8.7 Accelerator Lab Initiative
8.7 Accelerator Lab Hero

8.7 Accelerator Lab Initiative

Child Labour Platform (CLP)
CLP logo

Child Labour Platform (CLP)

Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour
Iniciativa regional logo

Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour

World Day Against Child Labour - 12 June
Pinwheel logo

World Day Against Child Labour - 12 June

Music against Child Labour Initiative
MACLI Card

Music against Child Labour Initiative

Red Card to Child Labour!
Red card logo

Red Card to Child Labour!

International Labour Standards on child labour

One of the most effective methods of ensuring that children do not start working too young is to set the age at which children can legally be employed or otherwise work. The aim of ILO Convention No. 138  on the minimum age is the effective abolition of child labour by requiring countries to: (1) establish a minimum age for entry into work or employment; and (2) establish national policies for the elimination of child labour.