By Ntombi Mhlongo
Members of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Monday commemorated the World Day Against Child Labour.
In a statement issued by ILO, it was stated that during the International Labour Conference, which is currently in session, a high-level panel was expected to take place to highlight examples of how ILO constituents have followed up on their commitments and how these are important steps towards increasing social justice.
The ILO launched the first World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to highlight the plight of children being made to work. Observed on June 12 every year, the day is intended to catalyze the growing worldwide movement against child labour.
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According to the ILO, the abolition of child labour is a cornerstone of the aspiration for social justice, through which every worker can claim freely and based on equality of opportunity and treatment their fair share of the wealth that they have helped to generate.
It was highlighted that since 2000, for nearly two decades, the world had been making steady progress in reducing child labour. But over the past few years, conflicts, crises, and the Covid-19 pandemic have plunged more families into poverty – and forced millions more children into child labour.
Economic growth has not been sufficient, nor inclusive enough to relieve the pressure that too many families and communities feel and that makes them resort to child labour.
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Today, it is estimated that 160 million children are still engaged in child labour which is almost one in ten children worldwide. Promoting concrete actions to address root causes and advancing social justice is at the heart of the Durban Call to Action, adopted at the 5th Global Conference for the Elimination of Child Labour in 2022.
“It is a blueprint for turning the tide against child labour using every available economic, political, and social lever. It seeks to ensure that child labour is prioritized in national and global policymaking and activities, in development cooperation and financial, trade and investment agreements,” reads part of the ILO statement.
