The report, Child Labour: Global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward, was published by the International Labour Organization on 10th June 2021.
- The report was released ahead of World Day Against Child Labour which is observed on 12th June.
- According to the report, for the first time in two decades, the number of children being put to work has risen – to 160 million worldwide, representing an increase of 8.4 million over four years (2016-2020).
- It points to a significant rise of children working between the ages of 5 and 11, which accounts for just over half of the total global figure.
- And those between five and 17 in hazardous work, which is likely to harm their health, safety or moral well-being, has risen by 6.5 million since 2016, to 79 million.
- The agriculture sector accounts for 70 per cent of children in child labour, followed by 20 per cent in services and 10 per cent in industry.
World Day Against Child Labour
- This year’s World Day Against Child Labour focuses on action taken for the 2021 International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.
- It is the first World Day since the universal ratification of the ILO’s Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, and takes place at time when the COVID-19 crisis threatens to reverse years of progress in tackling the problem.
- This year, the day was observed with the theme of “Act now: end child labour!”.
