By Matik Kueth
The Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, has revealed an alarming statistic of 160 million children worldwide engaged in child labor, with 79 million involved in hazardous work.
Speaking at the Informal interactive dialogue on ‘Childhood with Dignity: Eliminating child labor in all its forms, including forced recruitment and the use of children in armed conflict’ held at the UN Headquarters on Tuesday, Houngbo emphasized that a significant number of these children, approximately 112 million, work in agriculture, often as young as five or eleven years old, and many are hidden from view in domestic labor settings.
He underlined the serious issue of children being utilized in armed conflicts, describing it as one of the most egregious abuses of their rights.
Houngbo stressed that tackling child labor takes more than just raising awareness; it also necessitates comprehensive solutions that protect fundamental work rights.
He pointed out that providing decent work opportunities for parents is crucial to reducing poverty as a primary driver of child labor.
However, UN Under-Secretary-General, Cristina Isabel Lopes, shed light on Africa’s disproportionate burden, noting that nearly half of all child laborers globally are in Africa, with a significant number of girls affected.
She warned that unless urgent action is taken, Africa’s youthful population, which holds immense potential, could turn into a source of instability rather than progress.
She further called for bold, systemic reforms that recognize child labor as a symptom of broader policy failures and a breakdown in social protection.