World Day against child labour 2026
TLE DESK: The International Labour Organization (ILO) on 12 June marked World Day Against Child Labour with a renewed call for governments, businesses, workers’ organizations and civil society to intensify efforts to eliminate child labour worldwide.
Observed annually on June 12, this year’s campaign is being held under the slogan “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.” The initiative aims to mobilize global action to ensure children are protected from exploitation and have access to education, while promoting decent employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for adults.
According to the ILO, despite progress in recent years, an estimated 138 million children remain engaged in child labour globally, including nearly 54 million involved in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety and development.
The 2026 observance comes in the wake of the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour held in Marrakech, Morocco, which reaffirmed the need for accelerated action. The conference adopted the Marrakech Global Framework for Action, providing a roadmap for addressing the root causes of child labour and strengthening child protection measures.
The ILO emphasized that eliminating child labour requires integrated policies, including quality education, universal social protection, stronger labour law enforcement, improved data systems, responsible business practices, and expanded decent work opportunities for adults.
On the occasion, the organization urged governments and stakeholders worldwide to transform commitments into concrete action and ensure every child can enjoy a safe childhood, education and equal opportunities for the future.
