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World Day Against Child Labour 2024, Date, Theme, and Status of Child Labour

PWOnlyIAS June 12, 2024 10:55 1441 0

Every 12 June, the International Labour Organization (ILO) combines forces with their constituents and partners all around the world to observe the World Day Against Child Labour.

World Day Against Child Labour 2024, Date, Theme, and Status of Child Labour

Every 12 June, the International Labour Organization (ILO) combines forces with their constituents and partners all around the world to observe the World Day Against Child Labour.

As ILO commemorate World Day Against Child Labour in 2024, the focus sharpens on the unyielding battle against the exploitation of innocent lives. With the theme “Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labour!”, this year’s observance reinforces our collective commitment to eradicate child labour. World Day Against Child Labour 2024 also play an important role in fostering environments where every child can thrive, free from exploitation.

World Day Against Child Labour

Every year on June 12th, the world unites to raise awareness about the plight of child labourers and advocate for child rights. This year’s World Child Labour Day 2024 holds immense significance as we strive towards a future free from child exploitation.

World Day Against Child Labour 2024 focuses on celebrating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Worst Practices for Child Labour Agreement. It also offers a chance to remind all parties involved in child labour to enhance the implementation of two main conventions – Convention No. 182 and Convention No. 138 about the minimum age for work admission.

While tremendous progress has been made in the past few years to decrease child labour, recent global trends have reversed, highlighting the urgent need to coordinate efforts to accelerate efforts to abolish child labour in all of its forms.

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Theme of Child Labour Day 2024

The Theme of Child Labour Day 2024 is “Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labour!” This theme emphasizes the need for comprehensive social justice measures to eradicate child labour and ensure all children can enjoy their rights to safety, education, and a childhood free from exploitation. The theme for World Day Against Child Labour 2024 has been officially announced by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Considering the ongoing challenges, it’s likely to focus on accelerating action towards eliminating child labour in all its forms by 2025, a commitment set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What is Child Labour?

Child labour refers to work that is inappropriate for a child’s age, physical or mental capacity, and interferes with their education or development. As per the Indian constitution of Article 24, “No child under the age of 14 years is allowed to work in a mine or factory or involved in any hazardous employment.”

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines a child as anyone below 18 years old should not be involved in any hazardous work. Child labour can involve hazardous work, long hours, and exposure to dangerous environments.

The following are some of the worst practices of child labour as defined by the ILO:

  • Slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as trafficking in persons and debt bondage.
  • The use of children, particularly girls, in prostitution, pornography, or other illicit activities.
  • The nature and circumstances of work is likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children.

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Status of Child Labour in India

The Indian government has laws in place to prohibit child labour and promote education, such as the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. However, enforcement of these laws and monitoring of compliance are often inadequate, especially in rural areas and informal sectors.

As per the 2001 census, there were a total of 12.7 million children working as child labourers. After 10 years of efforts, as per the 2011 Census, India observes 10.1 Million working children between the ages of 5 to 14 out of 259.6 million children. Positively, there has been a 2.6 million reduction in child labour cases in India between 2001 and 2011.

The current status of Child Labour in India is that the country has made significant strides in reducing child labour over the past two decades. However, the problem persists, especially in rural areas and specific sectors. Here’s a glimpse into the changing landscape:

  • Efforts to combat child labour involve a combination of legislative measures, social programs, and grassroots initiatives. 
  • Organisations like UNICEF, Save the Children, and local NGOs work to raise awareness, provide education and vocational training, and support families to break the cycle of poverty that often drives children into labour.
  • Despite the reduction, millions of Indian children continue to be exploited in various sectors, including agriculture (the highest contributor), domestic work, small-scale industries, and the informal sector.
  • So, eradicating child labour in India remains a complex challenge requiring sustained commitment from government, civil society, and international partners. 

Child Labour Status at Global Level

The global narrative around child labour has seen both progress and setbacks. The following  data is the current Child Labour Status at Global Level:

  • There are still 160 million youngsters working as child labourers today. That equates to nearly one in 10 children globally. 
  • When it comes to the proportion of children working and the total number of children working (72 million), Africa is in first place among all other areas. 
  • In terms of all metrics, Asia and the Pacific comes in second; 62 million children in total are employed as child labourers in this region, which accounts for 7% of all children worldwide.

These numbers highlight the urgency of international collaboration and renewed commitment to achieving SDG Target 8.7: “End child labour in all its forms by 2025.”

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Government Initiatives or Schemes to Prevent Child Labour in India

The Indian government has implemented various initiatives to address child labour:

  • The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986: This act prohibits the employment of children below 14 years in hazardous occupations and regulates their work in non-hazardous sectors.
  • Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act): This act guarantees free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14, aiming to keep them in school and away from child labour.
  • National Child Labour Project (NCLP): Launched in 1988, this project focuses on rehabilitation of child labourers through bridge education, vocational training, and social awareness campaigns.
  • PENCIL (People Engaged in Child Labour) Scheme: This scheme provides financial assistance to withdrawn child labourers to support their families and encourage them to stay in school.

These initiatives have played a role in reducing child labour, but challenges like poverty, lack of enforcement mechanisms, and weak social safety nets remain.

International Initiatives to Prevent Child Labour

The following are a few of International Initiatives to Prevent Child Labour:

  • The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG Target 8.7 is a global commitment to eliminate child labour by 2025. The ILO coordinates efforts among UN agencies and member states to achieve this target. 
  • The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC): This ILO program works with governments, employers, and workers’ organizations to eliminate child labour. IPEC provides technical assistance, promotes research, and advocates for stronger national legislation.
  • UNICEF: The United Nations Children’s Fund works globally to protect the rights of children, including efforts to prevent and eliminate child labour. UNICEF supports education, healthcare, and social protection programs aimed at vulnerable children and families.
  • International Convention on the Rights of the Child (ICRC): The organisation affirms that every child has the right to be free from financial slavery, to be shielded from labour that could endanger their health and development. Governments must also establish a minimum age requirement for employment and offer suitable work hours and conditions. 

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Conclusion

The World Day Against Child Labour serves as a stark reminder of the millions of children worldwide who are denied their rightful childhood. While there have been significant strides in reducing child labour, the fight is far from over. Governments should enforce laws and regulations to protect children from exploitation in the workforce. 

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World Day Against Child Labour 2024 FAQs

The World Day Against Child Labour was established in 2002 by the International Labour Organization (ILO). It was organised to draw attention to the magnitude of child labour around the world and the efforts required to end it.

The Theme of Child Labour Day 2024 is “Let's act on our commitments: End Child Labour!” It highlights the connection between the exploitation of children for work and equality in society.

Child Labour Day in India is observed on June 12th each year, aligning with the World Day Against Child Labour established by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The day aims to raise awareness about the difficulty of child labourers, promote their rights, and work towards the eradication of child labour in India.

The theme of World child Day can vary annually to address different aspects of child labour. For 2024, the theme is "Let's act on our commitments: End Child Labour!"

There has been a decrease in child labour, but it's still a problem in India. Estimates suggest around 10 million children (aged 5-14) were working in India according to the 2011 census. However, the COVID-19 pandemic inflamed the problem, pushing more children in India into work due to economic hardships.

Poverty is a major reason for child labour in India, as children are forced to contribute to household income. Indian families in economically disadvantaged situations often rely on the additional income generated by their children to meet basic needs.

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