ILO makes case for red card action against child labour

From Bimbola Oyesola, Geneva, Switzerland

…As 138 million trapped globally

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has called for urgent global action to eliminate child labour, warning that nearly 138 million children around the world are still trapped in work that robs them of their education, safety and future opportunities.

The call was made as governments, workers’ organizations, employers, civil society groups and communities marked the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour on June 12 under the theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.”

According to the ILO, despite significant progress recorded over the years, an estimated 138 million children remain engaged in child labour globally, with nearly 54 million of them involved in hazardous work that threatens their health, development and well-being.

The global observance comes at a crucial time following the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour held in Marrakech, Morocco, where world leaders and stakeholders renewed their commitment to accelerating efforts to eradicate child labour in all its forms.

In a message marking the occasion, ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, described the continued existence of child labour on such a scale as unacceptable and called for stronger and more coordinated interventions worldwide.

“Today, nearly 138 million children remain in child labour, including 54 million in hazardous work. This is unacceptable—we must accelerate action,” Houngbo said.

He noted that the newly adopted Marrakech Global Framework for Action Against Child Labour provides a practical roadmap for governments and development partners to tackle the root causes of child labour through comprehensive and sustainable measures.

According to Houngbo, the framework places strong emphasis on ensuring decent work opportunities for parents and caregivers, universal access to quality education, expanded social protection systems and stronger legal and institutional frameworks to safeguard children’s rights.

“The Marrakech Global Framework gives us a roadmap grounded in decent work for parents, universal quality education, social protection and stronger laws and institutions,” he stated.

The ILO Director-General further highlighted a major breakthrough within the framework: the introduction of measurable indicators and accountability mechanisms designed to monitor implementation and ensure that commitments made by governments translate into meaningful action.

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

This year’s campaign draws inspiration from the language of sport, using the symbol of a red card to send a powerful message that child labour should no longer be tolerated in any society. The campaign emphasizes that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, play and develop in a safe and supportive environment.

“The 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,” Houngbo said.

Labour advocates say poverty, lack of access to education, weak social protection systems, conflict and inadequate enforcement of labour laws continue to fuel child labour in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries.

As the world reflects on the plight of millions of vulnerable children, the ILO is urging governments, employers, trade unions, businesses and communities to move beyond promises and take decisive action. “Together, let us act with urgency and determination to end child labour,” Houngbo appealed, stressing that the future of millions of children depends on the choices made today.