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By Maitree Choube
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Updated on 11 Jun 2025, 12:45 IST
World Day Against Child Labour is observed every year on 12th June to raise global awareness about the harsh realities of child labour and to emphasize the urgent need to eliminate it. In 2025, the day will fall on a Thursday, 12 June. This important day is led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with its global partners, aiming to spotlight both the progress made and the challenges that remain.
It serves as a reminder that millions of children around the world are still deprived of their right to education, safety, and a carefree childhood. The day calls for united global action and stronger commitment to end child labour in all its forms and create a world where every child can thrive and grow without exploitation.
World Day Against Child Labour 2025 is observed on 12th June every year to raise awareness about the millions of children who are forced to work, often in dangerous conditions. Even today, around 168 million children around the world are involved in child labour, and more than half of them do work that harms their health, safety, and development. In countries like Italy, over 340,000 children under 16 are at risk of being exploited.
The day was started by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2002 to fight against child labour and protect children's rights — such as access to education, safety, rest, and the chance to enjoy childhood. Organizations like Cesvi run campaigns like “Stop Child Labour – School is the best place to work” to spread this message and encourage action from governments, communities, and businesses.
Cesvi is working in countries like Kenya and India to support children who are victims of exploitation. In Kenya, they help children in trouble with the law, offering them counseling and training. In India, they run shelters and education programs to help children return to school and live a better life.
This day reminds us that ending child labour is a shared responsibility, and every child deserves a safe and happy future — free from exploitation and full of opportunities.
Child labour means making children do work that takes away their childhood and harms their health, growth, or happiness. It includes any kind of job that is mentally, physically, socially, or emotionally harmful to a child. This kind of work stops them from going to school, playing, and enjoying a safe and healthy life, which every child deserves.
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World Day Against Child Labour is celebrated on Thursday, 12th June 2025.
This global awareness day is celebrated every year on 12th June, and it is recognized on the same date in all countries around the world. There is no variation by country—it’s a worldwide observance led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to highlight the urgent need to end child labour everywhere.
It’s a day for everyone—governments, organizations, schools, and individuals—to come together and take a stand against child exploitation.
The theme for World Day Against Child Labour 2025 is “Progress is clear, but there's more to do: Let's speed up efforts!”
This means that while the world has made good progress in reducing child labour, there are still many children who are being forced to work in harmful and unfair conditions. The theme reminds us that we cannot slow down now—we need to act faster and work harder to protect every child.
This year marks 26 years since the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour was adopted. This important agreement was created to stop the most dangerous types of work that children face, such as slavery, trafficking, and hazardous jobs. The 2025 theme encourages governments, communities, and individuals to keep working together until all children are safe, free, and able to enjoy their childhood.
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World Day Against Child Labour 2025 holds great significance, as it highlights the urgent need to protect children and end child labour globally.
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People around the world observe World Day Against Child Labour on June 12 to spread awareness and take action to stop child labour. It's a day for everyone to speak up and act so kids can have a proper childhood.
Here are some simple activities:
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Below Given are some helpful Quotes to celebrate world day against child labour
Good morning everyone, respected Principal, teachers, and my dear friends,
Today, I stand before you to speak on a very important topic – World Day Against Child Labour, which is observed every year on 12th June. This day reminds us that even today, millions of children around the world are forced to work instead of going to school, playing, and enjoying their childhood.
Let me share something shocking with you: According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), about 160 million children worldwide are involved in child labour. That means nearly 1 in every 10 children is working in farms, factories, streets, or homes—many in dangerous and harmful conditions. And this is not just happening in far-away places; child labour exists in many parts of our own country too.
This Year World Day Against Child Labour 2025 Theme focuses on:
"Progress is clear, but there's more to do: Let's speed up efforts!"
This theme tells us that while some progress has been made, millions of children are still suffering, and we need to act faster and smarter to stop it.
This year is also special because it marks 26 years since the world adopted the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention in 1999. It focuses on ending the worst kinds of child labour, such as slavery, human trafficking, and work that puts children's health and safety at serious risk."
But why does child labour happen in the first place?
The main reasons are poverty, lack of education, and unemployment in families. When parents can’t earn enough, they are forced to send their children to work instead of school. That’s why it’s so important to support poor families and ensure that every child has access to free and quality education.
As students, what can we do?
We may be young, but our voices matter. We can raise awareness, speak out against child labour, and help create a future where every child is in school, not in a factory or field. We must also be kind and respectful to those who are not as fortunate as we are.
Let us remember:
Childhood is not for work. It is for dreams, play, and learning.
Let us stand together to protect children’s rights and build a better tomorrow.
Thank you and Jai Hind!
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Child Labour Day, officially called World Day Against Child Labour, is significant because it raises global awareness about the harmful effects of child labour and mobilizes action to protect children’s rights, education, and wellbeing.
The objective is to spark a worldwide movement against child labour by encouraging governments, employers, workers, and civil society to take concrete steps to eliminate child labour in all its forms. It aims to protect children’s rights and promote social justice.
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (amended in 2016) in India prohibits employment of children under 14 in all occupations, except in non-hazardous family businesses after school hours or during vacations. It also bans adolescents (14–18 years) from hazardous work and sets strict penalties for violations. The Act regulates working hours and conditions for children and adolescents.
The purpose is to promote and amplify the global call to stop child labour, encourage collective action, and ensure children are protected from exploitation and have access to education and a healthy childhood.
With ongoing global efforts, child labour numbers have declined, but challenges remain, especially due to poverty and crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The future goal is to eliminate child labour by 2030 through stronger laws, education, social protection, and international cooperation.