New York/Geneva — Child labour down by 94 million since 2000, a gain now under threat
Millions more children risk being pushed into child labour as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, which could lead to the first rise in child labour after 20 years of progress, according to a new brief from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF.
Integrating child labour concerns across broader policies for education, social protection, justice, labour markets, and international human and labour rights makes a critical difference."
According to the brief, COVID-19 could result in a rise in poverty and therefore to an increase in child labour as households use every available means to survive.
"In times of crisis, child labour becomes a coping mechanism for many families," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.
The brief proposes a number of measures to counter the threat of increased child labour, including more comprehensive social protection, easier access to credit for poor households, the promotion of decent work for adults, measures to get children back into school, including the elimination of school fees, and more resources for labour inspections and law enforcement.
