The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released the Framework of Action to Accelerate the Elimination of Child Labour 2023–2025, setting out a comprehensive strategy to intensify global efforts to end child labour. The document calls for urgent and coordinated measures to strengthen legal and policy frameworks, improve labour inspection and enforcement, tackle the root causes such as poverty and lack of access to education, and enhance child protection systems capable of identifying and withdrawing children from hazardous and exploitative work. It underscores the role of social protection schemes and the need to raise public awareness on both traditional and emerging forms of child labour, including online exploitation.

Designed as a practical guide for governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society and international partners, the Framework aligns with the commitments under Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7 and seeks to translate these into accelerated action at country level. The ILO calls on all stakeholders to use this Framework as a roadmap to close the gap and move decisively towards the eradication of child labour in all its forms.

Read the full publication here

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has published the Issue Paper on Child Labour and Climate Change, which consolidates and reviews the latest research on the links between climate change and child labour. The paper highlights how climate shocks and environmental degradation exacerbate the vulnerabilities of children, increasing the risk of child labour particularly in agriculture and informal sectors. It underscores the need for integrated, multisectoral approaches that address the root causes of child labour in the context of climate change and environmental challenges.

The document calls on governments, social partners, and development actors to incorporate child labour considerations into climate change policies and programmes. By strengthening resilience, investing in social protection, expanding access to quality education, and upholding labour rights, it is possible to mitigate the impact of climate change on child labour and advance progress towards Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7.

The paper serves as a resource for policy makers and practitioners to deepen understanding and to design effective strategies that simultaneously confront child labour and climate risks.

Read the full report here

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released the Issue Paper on Child Labour and Education Exclusion among Indigenous Children, which examines the intertwined challenges faced by indigenous children who are disproportionately impacted by both child labour and limited access to education. The paper highlights how the social, economic, and cultural marginalization of indigenous communities results in higher child labour rates, particularly in hazardous work, alongside significant educational disadvantages. It underscores the need for integrated policies that promote culturally appropriate education, protect indigenous children’s rights, bolster social protection, and ensure their participation in decision-making processes. This approach is essential to address root causes and advance progress towards Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7.

The report serves as a resource for governments, social partners, and development actors to better understand these challenges and design inclusive strategies that protect indigenous children from exploitation while promoting their access to quality education.

Read the full report here

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has published a comprehensive Meta-analysis of the Effects of Interventions on Child Labour covering empirical studies from 2010 to 2023. This analysis quantitatively assesses the impact of a broad range of interventions aimed at reducing child labour globally, drawing from 41 randomized and quasi-experimental evaluations. The findings show that combined interventions modestly reduce child labour participation by about 2 percent overall; however, cash transfer programmes—both conditional and unconditional—reduce child labour odds by approximately 10 to 11 percent. Conversely, some interventions related to microfinance, training, and capital have been associated with slight increases in child labour.

The report highlights the complexity and heterogeneity of child labour definitions and measurements across studies but reinforces the critical role of targeted social protection measures, education incentives, and labor market interventions in addressing child labour. It serves as a vital evidence base to inform policy makers, social partners, and practitioners seeking to design and scale effective strategies aligned with Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7 to eradicate child labour in all its forms.

Read the full report here

The International Labour Organization (ILO), together with the OECD, IOM and UNICEF under the Alliance 8.7 partnership, has released the landmark report Ending Child Labour, Forced Labour and Human Trafficking in Global Supply Chains. This is the first global study to measure the prevalence of these violations within supply chains and to provide comprehensive policy guidance to address them. The report finds that while most cases occur in domestic production, a significant share is linked to global supply chains across multiple sectors, from agriculture to manufacturing and services.

It calls for urgent and coordinated action on two fronts: strengthening public policies and governance systems that prevent exploitation and protect vulnerable workers and ensuring responsible business conduct through due diligence that extends across the entire supply chain, including upstream production. The report highlights the need for integrated approaches that tackle root causes, including poverty and informality, while closing legal gaps and reinforcing enforcement mechanisms.

Designed as a resource for governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and international partners, the report aligns with commitments under Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7 and the Buenos Aires Declaration on Child Labour, Forced Labour and Youth Employment. It provides a roadmap for collective action to eliminate these abuses in global supply chains and to uphold fundamental rights at work worldwide.

Read the full report here