Child Labour Declines Globally, But Africa Still Hit Hardest

A joint report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) shows a decline in global child labor, dropping from 160 million in 2020. Back in 2000, the ILO recorded 245.5 million children involved in labor.

The number of children engaged in hazardous work also fell, from 79 million to 54 million. Despite this progress, the ILO cautioned that the complete elimination of child labor remains a distant goal. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the hardest-hit region, with 86.6 million children still working.

UNICEF’s Nankali Maksud noted that challenges such as poverty, high population growth, and weak enforcement of laws hinder progress. In Madagascar, for instance, 47% of children aged 5 to 17 are involved in child labor, a situation worsened by climate-related hardships forcing families into mining. Cultural expectations and the need for survival often drive children into labor, particularly in agriculture and mining. Researchers also observed that many children do not perceive their work as a form of exploitation.