Statement by Commissioner Micallef on the World Day Against Child Labour

European Commission - Statement Statement by Commissioner Micallef on the World Day Against Child Labour Brussels, 12 June 2025 For the European Union, the fight against child labour is an absolute priority. Every child trapped in labour is a promise broken, a future stolen from us all. We must act with urgency. On this World Day Against Child Labour, the 2025 ILO/UNICEF Global Estimates reveal a heartwrenching truth: 137.6 million children remain in child labour, despite a 22.4 million decline since 2020. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the hardest-hit region with 86.6 million children—63% of the global total—progress has stalled. Child recruitment by armed groups is also rising globally, underscoring the world's failure to meet the Sustainable Development Goal's target 8.7 to put an end to child labour by 2025. The European Union stands resolute in its zero-tolerance policy towards child labour. Through our development cooperation, trade agreements, and legislative initiatives, we are working tirelessly to eliminate this scourge. We champion living wages to lift families from poverty, quality education to empower vulnerable children, and' robust laws to protect children—because none should be left behind. Through the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, we are promoting education initiatives that keep children out of work and highlighting the need for supply chains to be free from child labour. We also encourage stronger labour inspections in partner countries. We call...