Nearly 138 million children worldwide were exposed to child labor in 2024, according to the latest report released by UNICEF and the International Labor Organization (ILO) on Wednesday.
According to the data, about 54 million children work in conditions that endanger their health and safety.
Child labor is most prevalent in agriculture, and the most affected region is sub-Saharan Africa, where as many as 87 million children perform some form of work.
Compared to the previous period from 2016 to 2020, when 160 million children were involved in child labor, there has been a certain decrease, but the number still remains worryingly high.
Despite this decrease, the goal of completely eliminating child labor by 2025, which was set within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, will not be achieved.
The report was released on the eve of the World Day against Child Labor, which is marked on Thursday.
“The new report on child labor reminds us of the grim reality that millions of children are still denied the right to learn, to play and simply to be children, despite the progress made,” said UNICEF Germany Director Christian Schneider, according to dpa.
He emphasized that the successes so far show the direction of action through legal protection, better social security, investment in free and quality education, and decent and honest work for adults.
“These are effective instruments for protecting children from child labor,” said Schneider.
