This year on 12 June, World Day Against Child Labour focuses on the elimination of child labour in agriculture. Worldwide, agriculture is the sector where the largest percentage of working children is found - nearly 70 percent. Over 132 million girls and boys aged 5 to 14 years old often work from dawn to dusk on farms and plantations, planting and harvesting crops, spraying pesticides, and tending livestock.

Child labour, according to International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, is work that harms children's well-being and hinders their education, development and future livelihoods. When children have to work long hours in the fields, their ability to attend school or skills training is limited, preventing them from gaining education that could help lift them out of poverty in the future. Girls are particularly disadvantaged as they often undertake household chores following work in the fields. Moreover, agriculture is one of the three most dangerous occupations to work in along with mining and construction, in terms of fatalities, accidents and ill health.

The ILO, especially through its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), is now working with several international agricultural organizations on the elimination of child labour in agriculture, especially hazardous child labour. This new partnership strengthens the global movement for the elimination of child labour and will have a real impact on the ground.

For further information, see the IPEC World Day site.