By Matik Kueth
In 2024, nearly 138 million children were involved in child labor, with about 54 million exposed to dangerous conditions that threaten their health and development, according to a new report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEF.
The latest data show a total reduction of over 20 million children since 2020, reversing an alarming spike between 2016 and 2020.
Despite this positive trend, the world has failed to meet its target of eradicating child labor by 2025.
The report, titled “Child Labor: Global Estimates 2024, Trends, and the Road Forward,” released one day before World Day Against Child Labor and International Day of Play, highlights the stark reality that, while progress has been made, millions of children continue to be denied their right to learn, play, and simply be children.
The report stresses the critical need for coordinated initiatives that include education, social security, and adequate job prospects for parents to break the cycle of child labor and poverty.
“This latest data gives us reason to be hopeful,” said Federico Blanco, an ILO expert and co-author. “But progress is just too slow. Each statistic represents a youngster denied the right to an education and a brighter future. We need systemic transformation, not just discrete actions.”