Child labour remains one of the most pervasive and complex challenges of our time, affecting 160 million children worldwide. Half of these children are engaged in hazardous work that threatens their health, education, and overall development. Target 8.7 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals calls for an end to child labour in all its forms by 2025. This ambitious target underscores a collective global commitment to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking. As we begin the new year, it is crucial to reflect on the progress made so far, celebrate key milestones achieved, and renew our resolve to tackle the challenges ahead.
Key Achievements to Date
International efforts to end modern slavery have laid a strong foundation for addressing child labour. ILO Conventions, including Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age and Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, have been universally ratified, demonstrating a global commitment to tackling this issue. These instruments have set global standards and galvanised collective action against child labour.
Recent legislative measures have further reinforced the global commitment to ending child labour. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and Forced Labour Regulation require businesses to conduct rigorous due diligence and ban products linked to forced or child labour from entering major markets. Similarly, Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act mandates transparency and accountability from businesses. These frameworks ensure that tackling child labour is not just a moral imperative but a legal obligation.
Private sector engagement has been instrumental in the fight against child labour. Businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of responsible practices, driven by both legislative pressure and demand from investors and consumers. The UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles have guided companies in embedding child protection into their operations. Additionally, many businesses have stepped up to address child labour through proactive measures such as enhanced human rights due diligence, remediation programmes which target the root causes of child labour, and the utilisation of technologies to improve transparency.
The Role of Collaboration
Progress towards achieving Target 8.7 has required unprecedented collaboration across sectors. Alliance 8.7, a multi-stakeholder global partnership, has brought together governments, civil society, businesses, and international organisations to share resources, coordinate efforts, and demonstrate progress. Companies are also participating in collective action initiatives like the ILO’s Child Labour Platform, where businesses collaborate to share best practices, scale impact, and influence policy. Such partnerships underline the importance of collective action in addressing systemic issues like child labour.
Kakuzi PLC: Eradicating Child Labour through Family Empowerment
As a participant of the UN Global Compact, Kenyan agricultural company, Kakuzi PLC encourages all employees’ children of school-going age to be enrolled in school, supports mentorship programmes for high school students, offers academic scholarships, improves schools’ infrastructure, and funds additional teachers to improve education quality.
Kakuzi enhances family welfare by providing company housing that exceeds statutory requirements, access to potable water, primary healthcare, and firewood donations for household and school feeding programmes.
Programmes like the Tabasamu Menstrual Hygiene Initiative support adolescent girls to ensure they do not miss school due to menstruation, while marshals escort children to and from school to ensure their safety en route. These initiatives demonstrate Kakuzi’s dedication to creating an environment where children can thrive and families are empowered, proving the private sector can play a pivotal role in eradicating child labour and promoting child welfare.
What Comes Next?
Despite collective efforts, the world will fall short of meeting the 2025 deadline to end child labour. This stark reality underscores the immense scale and complexity of the challenge. While progress has been made, with milestones achieved through global collaboration and legislative advancements, millions of children remain trapped in exploitative conditions. We must acknowledge this failure, not as a deterrent, but as a call to intensify our commitment.
Moving forward, all actors must redouble their efforts by conducting rigorous due diligence, enhancing supplier accountability, collaborating across sectors, and advocating for stronger frameworks. Businesses, governments, and civil society will need to adopt innovative strategies and reinforce partnerships to tackle the root causes of child labour. The 2025 deadline is an opportunity to reflect, renew our resolve, and ensure that every child can grow up free from exploitation, with the opportunity to thrive.
Written By
