160 Million of World’s Children Forced to Work During Pandemic, UN Says

GENEVA - A new report finds 160 million children or nearly one child in ten is involved in child labor globally, an increase of 8.4 million since 2016.  A joint report by the International Labor Organization and UN Children’s Fund warns the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening an already alarming situation.  The report is being launched in advance of the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12.    

This is the first increase recorded in absolute numbers since the International Labor Organization began tracking the extent of child labor globally 20 years ago.  The data show nearly half of these children or 79 million are involved in hazardous work, 6.5 million more than in 2016.     Hazardous work is considered as among the worst forms of child labor.  It is dangerous, harmful to a child’s physical and mental health, and could result in death.  The ILO reports 70% of children work in agriculture, most on family farms, 20% in services, including domestic work, and 10% in industry.    The picture that emerges from this study varies by region.   The report finds child labor is continuing to decrease in Asia and the Pacific, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean.  However, child labor has risen substantially in Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.