What is child labour
The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that:
- is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or
- interferes with their schooling by: depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.
2020 Global Estimates of Child Labour
Number of children in child labour
Child labour is more prevalent among boys than girls at every age
The agricultural sector accounts for the largest share of child labour worldwide
Over one third of children in child labour are out of school
Further information
Child labour: a textbook for university students
Eliminating the worst forms of child labour: a practical guide to ILO Convention no. 182 (Handbook for parliamentarians, no. 3, 2002)
Combating child labour: A handbook for labour inspectors