World Day Against Child Labour

Panel discussion 

The high-level side event organized by the ILO during the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference, at the fringes of the Recurrent Item Discussion on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, celebrates the 25 years since the adoption of ILO Convention No. 182.

It also provides an opportunity for tripartite constituents to discuss advances and challenges in relation to the elimination of child labour with the aim to improve implementation worldwide, as well as to promote universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 138. 

Let’s Act on our Commitments: End Child Labour

This year’s World Day will focus on celebrating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour,1999 (No. 182), which, in 2020, was the first ILO Convention to be universally ratified. While calling on all member States that have not yet done so to ratify the Convention on the Minimum Age, 1973 (No. 138), the World Day is also an opportunity for reminding all stakeholders to improve their implementation of the two fundamental ILO Conventions on child labour – Conventions No. 182 and No. 138.

While much progress has been made in reducing child labour over the years, recent years have seen global trends reverse, and, now more than ever, it is important to join forces to accelerate action towards ending child labour in all its forms.

With the adoption of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7, the international community made a commitment to the elimination of child labour in all its forms by 2025.  Governments around the world have ratified ILO Conventions on child labour (Convention No. 182 ratified by all 187 ILO member States, and Convention No. 138 ratified by 176 Member States) and are committed to their implementation. The Durban Call to Action, adopted by delegates following the 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour in 2022, shows the way. 

This year, the Regional Initiative “Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour” is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and the event will feature a video message by tripartite representatives of the Initiative.