New ILO report shows marked decline in child labour worldwide

GENEVA: Child labour, especially in its worst forms, is in decline for the first time across the globe, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said in a new, cautiously optimistic report entitled "The end of child labour: Within reach".

The ILO believes child labour could feasibly be eliminated, in most of its worst forms, in 10 years.

"The end of child labour is within our reach," Director-General of the ILO Juan Somavia, said. "Though the fight against child labour remains a daunting challenge, we are on the right track. We can end its worst forms in a decade, while not losing sight of the ultimate goal of ending all child labour."

The new report says the actual number of child labourers worldwide fell by 11 per cent between 2000 and 2004, from 246 million to 218 million.

The number of children and youth aged 5-17 trapped in hazardous work decreased by 26 per cent, to reach 126 million in 2004 as opposed to 179 million in the previous estimate.

Among younger child labourers aged 5-14, this drop was even more pronounced at 33 per cent, says the report. Four years ago, the ILO issued the most comprehensive report todate on global child labour and the ILO finds a significant decline in child labour since then.

The report attributed the reduction in child labour to increased political will and awareness and concrete action, particularly in the fields of poverty reduction and mass education that has led to a "worldwide movement against child labour".

Despite considerable progress in the fight against child labour, the report also highlights important challenges, particularly in agriculture, where seven out of ten child labourers work.

Other challenges include addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS on child labour, and building stronger links between child labour and youth employment concerns.

Asia and the Pacific registered a significant decline in the number of economically active children, according to the report. However, as the child population also declined, the percentage of working children was less reduced.

(ILO news)