138 million children in child labour: ILO calls for urgent action

He points to a global push to speed up progress through decent work, education, social protection, and stronger laws. This year’s theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults,” is a reminder that every child deserves to learn, play, and grow up safe.

Video transcription:

Today, nearly 138 million children remain in child labour, including 54 million in hazardous work.

This is unacceptable – we must accelerate action.

Marrakech Global Framework for Action against Child Labour gives us a roadmap grounded in decent work for parents, universal quality education, social protection and stronger laws and institutions.

For the first time, it includes clear indicators of progress and a built-in accountability mechanism to track implementation and to keep child labour high on the global agenda beyond 2030.

This year's theme – "Red Card to Child Labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults" – reminds us that every child has the right to learn, to play and to grow up protected and safe.

Together, let us act with urgency and determination to end child labour.