World Day against Child Labour will be globally commemorated tomorrow with a tripartite celebration of Government, Employers and Workers.

In a statement from the International Labour Organisation, the Director for Pacific Island Countries, Donglin Li says this year, the world day shines a spotlight on the need to end child labour and improve the safety and health of young workers for a “Generation Safe and Healthy.”

All children have the right to be protected from child labour.

Yet, around the world, there are still 168 million children in child labour.

85 million of them are engaged in hazardous work.

This global campaign Li says aims to accelerate action to achieve SDG target 8.8 of safe and secure working environments for all workers by 2030 and SDG target 8.7 of ending all forms of child labour by 2025.

The Director adds that achieving these goals for the benefit of the next generation of the global workforce requires a concerted and integrated approach to eliminating child labour and promoting a culture of prevention on occupational safety health (OSH).

The campaign highlights the critical importance of improving safety and health for young workers above the minimum legal age for work, not only to promote decent youth employment but also to combat hazardous child labour as part of an integrated approach to eradicate all forms of child labour.

Some types of work, e.g. mining, deep sea fishing, street vending, scavenging and work in construction are dangerous and prohibited for children under the age of 18 under any circumstances.

The campaign also stresses the critical importance of removing children below the minimum age from all forms of child labour, and ensuring they have access to quality education and attend school at least until they complete compulsory education and reach the minimum legal age for work.