About 160 million children are still in child labour, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said. Director-General of ILO, Gilbert Houngbo, said this, yesterday, during the commemoration of World Day Against Child Labour, marked yearly on June 12.
This was just as the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has also called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to end child labour in workplaces across the country. Of the 160 million children in child labour, Houngbo said 79 million were in hazardous work.
He recalled the Durban Declaration, two years ago, where global leaders agreed that ending child labour must be a central goal of economic and social policies.
Speaking on this year’s theme, ‘Let’s Act on our Commitments: End Child Labour’, the ILO chief said economies must ensure a universal action on the commitment.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL of NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said “child labour remains a pressing issue in Nigeria,” denying millions of children their basic rights to education, health and a safe environment.
The day, he noted, serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to implement and strengthen policies aimed at eradicating child labour in workplaces, particularly within business value chains, and promoting overall child welfare. Reflecting on this year’s theme, Oyerinde emphasised the need for concrete actions and collaboration to fulfill pledges.
