The World Day Against Child Labour, which is held every year on June 12, is an International Labour Organization (ILO)-sanctioned holiday first launched in 2002 aiming to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labour, it was spurred by ratifications of ILO Convention No. 138 on the minimum age for employment and ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour.

The ILO, the United Nations body that regulates the world of work, launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 in order to bring attention and join efforts to fight against child labour. This day brings together governments, local authorities, civil society and international, workers and employers organizations to point out the child labour problem and define the guidelines to help child labourers. According to ILO’s data, hundreds of millions of girls and boys throughout the world are involved in work that deprives them of receiving an adequate education, health, leisure and basic freedoms, violating this way their rights. Of these children, more than half are exposed to the worst forms of child labour. These worst forms of child labour include work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict.

2026 Theme: Red card to child labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults. The 2026 World Day comes at a decisive moment. The 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, held in Marrakech, reaffirmed the urgent need to accelerate action and translate commitments into concrete results. The Marrakech Global Framework for Action against Child Labour provides a concrete roadmap and indicators for tackling child labour through integrated responses that address root causes and protect every child’s rights. Under the slogan “Red card to child labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults”, the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour campaign calls for reinforced action on the policies that prevent child labour and withdrawn children from it:  quality education, universal social protection, decent work and adequate livelihoods for adults, stronger laws and enforcement, better data and monitoring systems, and responsible action in agriculture and supply chains. This action is urgently needed. Despite progress, 138 million children remain in child labour worldwide, including nearly 54 million in hazardous work. On this World Day Against Child Labour, raise the Red card to child labour. Mobilize, speak out and act to turn the Marrakech commitments into real change for children, families and communities everywhere.

Links:
World Day Against Child Labour