News on forced labour

December 2020

  1. © ILO 2022

    Universal protection against the worst forms of child labour

    23 December 2020

    In 2020, for the first time in the ILO’s history, an International Labour Standard achieved universal ratification, with acceptance by all 187 Member States. Universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999) means that all children now have legal protection against the worst forms of child labour. The landmark achievement comes at a significant moment, because the United Nations has designated 2021 as the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour. Vera Paquete-Perdigao answers some key questions on child labour and the Convention.

November 2020

  1. © ILO 2022

    Child labour is an affront to our common values

    20 November 2020

    The universal ratification of the ILO’s Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour is a positive step for Africa’s children says Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa.

June 2020

  1. © S. Pal Chaudhury-NurPhot/AFP 2022

    COVID-19 may push millions more children into child labour – ILO and UNICEF

    12 June 2020

    Child labour down by 94 million since 2000, a gain now under threat.

  2. © Issouf Sanogo / AFP 2022

    COVID-19 may push millions more children into child labour – ILO and UNICEF

    12 June 2020

    Child labour down by 94 million since 2000, a gain now under threat.

June 2019

  1. Community action to fight child labour

    12 June 2019

    By working with local communities an ILO project in Bangladesh has succeeded in removing 2,000 children from child labour.

  2. Out of the mines and into school

    12 June 2019

    An ILO project in Ghana’s artisanal mining communities is helping to reduce child labour and open up opportunities for education for vulnerable children.

August 2016

  1. © Antonio Rodrigues 2022

    Young apprentices escape forced labour in Mato Grosso

    03 August 2016

    The “Ação Integrada” (“Integrated Action”) project guarantees access to vocational training for people working in slavery-like conditions, to offer the opportunity for decent life.

October 2012

  1. ILO says discrimination against young girls must end

    10 October 2012

    The world must make sure that girl children find their rightful places at home, school and, as they grow up, at work - on equal terms with boys.