CONTRIBUTORS
Davis Muli Musyoki
Communications Officer
June 12 marks the World Day Against Child Labour, a solemn reminder that despite global commitments and legal protections, millions of children are still denied their basic rights to education, safety, and a dignified childhood. The 2025 theme, “Let’s Act on Our Commitments: End Child Labour,” speaks directly to policymakers: the time for action is now.
Child Labour: A Persistent Violation of Rights
Globally, 160 million children—nearly one in ten—are engaged in child labour, with almost half involved in hazardous work, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). In Sub-Saharan Africa, the crisis is particularly acute: over 86.6 million children are affected, a number that continues to rise amid economic shocks, displacement, and weakened social systems.
In Kenya and similar contexts, child labour is often hidden in plain sight—in domestic work, subsistence farming, informal trading, and artisanal mining. Many of these children are below the legal working age and are engaged in conditions that hinder their physical and mental development.
Why Policymakers Must Prioritize This Issue
Child labour is both a symptom and a driver of poverty. It undermines national development by depriving children of an education and reducing their potential to contribute meaningfully to society and the economy. Without bold policy action, the vision of universal education, gender equality, and decent work will remain elusive.
Failure to act also threatens the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7, which commits countries to ending child labour in all its forms by 2025. With less than a year remaining, the urgency has never been greater.
Key Policy Gaps
Despite having legal frameworks such as the Children Act, Employment Act, and international commitments like ILO Conventions 138 and 182, enforcement remains a major challenge. Common barriers include:
- Limited budget allocations for child protection services
- Weak coordination across government departments
- Inadequate data on the prevalence and drivers of child labour
- Low awareness among communities and employers
Policy Recommendations
As duty bearers, policymakers hold the tools to drive sustainable solutions. Here are key actions that must be prioritized:
- Strengthen Enforcement Mechanisms
Allocate sufficient resources to labour inspectors and local child protection officers. Empower enforcement agencies to identify, investigate, and prosecute child labour violations effectively.
- Invest in Quality Education
Ensure free, inclusive, and accessible basic education for all children, with targeted interventions to support children in hard-to-reach and vulnerable communities.
- Expand Social Protection Programs
Scale up cash transfer programs and school feeding initiatives to reduce the economic pressure that forces families to send children to work.
- Promote Community Awareness and Engagement
Work with community leaders, religious institutions, and civil society to challenge harmful norms and raise awareness on the dangers of child labour.
- Integrate Data Systems
Develop and maintain reliable, disaggregated data to inform policy decisions and monitor progress at national and county levels.
A Call to Leadership
On this World Day Against Child Labour, we must reaffirm that child labour is not inevitable—it is a policy choice. With coordinated leadership, political will, and adequate resourcing, we can create systems that protect every child’s right to education and development.
The children caught in labour today are the very citizens we expect to drive our nations forward tomorrow. Investing in their protection is not just a moral imperative—it is a smart, strategic choice for sustainable development.
Let this day serve not just as a commemoration, but as a catalyst for decisive, measurable action. The future of our children—and our nations—depends on it.