The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the eighth of which is "decent work and economic growth", namely: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. 

Under this major goal, there are twelve targets, the seventh of which is "Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms".

● Current Situation

About the World

152 Million Child Workers Globally

In the last 20 years almost 100 million children have been removed from child labour, bringing numbers down from 246 million in 2000 to 152 million in 2016. 

However, progress across regions is uneven. Almost half of child labour happens in Africa (72 million children), followed by Asia and the Pacific (62 million). 70 per cent of children in child labour work in agriculture, mainly in subsistence and commercial farming and livestock herding. Almost half of all these children work in occupations or situations considered hazardous for their health and lives. 

Text and photo source: un.org

About China

Take Actions to Protect Children and against Child Labour

Photo source: xinhuanet.com

As an active member of the International Labour Organization, the Chinese government has taken measures to protect children’s rights against child labour, like vigorously popularizing Nine-year compulsory education with the aim of keeping children in school rather than in factories; carrying out in- and after- school safety education for children and protecting them from any kind of physical injury. On the other hand, the Chinese government also regularly investigates child labour in the labour market and supervises corporate employment practices.

Text source: ilo.org

●  Cases

About the World

UN International Year for Elimination of Child Labour

The International Year was unanimously adopted in a UN General Assembly resolution in 2019. A main aim of the year is to urge governments to do what is necessary to achieve Target 8.7 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

A virtual event took place on 21 January 2021 to launch the International Year. A range of stakeholders will take part, including the ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, the Nobel Peace Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi and child labour survivor and activist, Amar Lal. 

Text and photo source: un.org

Combat Child Labour in Supply Chain

Based on its rich experience in supporting enterprises to eliminate child labor for nearly 20 years in the industry, the International Toy Association (ICTI) puts forward the practical experience of enterprises together with the International Labour Organization and 233 other partners.

Photo source: 163.com

Firstly, analysis and preliminary risk assessment of supply chain is the most critical step to improve the transparency of the supply chain. According to the assessed risk level, suppliers are included in the management schemes with different risk levels. For management non-compliance, such as zero tolerance of child labor or forced labor, immediate action should be taken to ensure that business partners provide remedial measures and corrective action plans for all violations. At the same time, enterprises need to follow up to ensure that the problems are corrected within specified time frame, and try to prevent the recurrence of violations. Finally, raising awareness and understanding of risks of child labour in the supply chain, educating about relevant global legislation and supporting the eradication of child labour will have a positive impact on enterprises and communities.

Text source: ethicaltoyprogram.org

About China

Committed to Eliminating Child Labour

Committed to eliminating child labour, China ratified the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) on 28 April 1999, and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) on 8 August 2002. 

Photo source:baidu.com

National policies, programmes and laws support the prevention of child labour, notably the Compulsory Education Law and corresponding measures to enforce the law and prevent school dropouts; the National Mid- and Long-Term Reform on Education and Development Programme (2010-2020), which includes specific compulsory education targets, and measures to raise the quality of education at all levels; the Plan of Action against Human Trafficking (2013–20), as well as the Anti-Trafficking Inter-Ministerial Joint Meeting (IMJM) of the State Council; and, the abolishment of the Re-education through Labour (RETL) programme. 

Text source: ilo.org

China Strives to Eliminate Child Labour

Child labour violates fundamental principles and rights at work and is widely recognized as a threat to sustainable social and economic development. Chinese government has always taken positive measures to protect children's rights and interests and prohibit the use of child labor. In terms of labor market supervision, Chinese government has long carried out regular general survey and screening of child labor, strictly supervised the employment behavior of enterprises, and formulated relevant laws and regulations such as the Labor Law, the Law on Protection of Minors and the Provisions on Prohibition of Using Child Labor.

Text and photo source: baidu.com

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.