ILO / CHILD LABOUR

Nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024, including around 54 million in hazardous work likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development, according to new estimates released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). ILO

• Video Length: 00:04:27
• Production Date: 11 June 2025
• Asset Language: English; Spanish
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION - ILO
• Subject Topical: CHILD LABOUR
• MAMS Id: 3408879
• Parent Id: 3408879
• Alternate Title: unifeed250611e

Description

STORY: ILO / CHILD LABOUR
TRT:4:27
SOURCE: ILO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: BAMANAKAN / ENGLISH / TAGALOG / SPANISH / NATS

DATELINE: PLEASE CHECK SHOTLIST FOR DETAILS

Shotlist

02 MAY 2025 TIOLA, SIKASSO REGION, MALI

Tahirou Sanogo is a 15-year-old boy from Tiola, Sikasso Region in Mali. He was previously engaged in child labour, working in the cotton fields and as a bus apprentice. Thanks to the ILO’s ACCEL Africa project he is now in school and has learned how to read and write.
1. SOUNDBITE (Bamanakan) Tahirou Sanogo:
00:00 – 00:15
“Before enrolling in school, I used to work in the cotton fields. We would return home very late in the evening. And upon returning, I would rush to the bus to work as an apprentice.”
00:16 – 00:34
“But since I started school, I stopped doing all that. Before, I couldn’t read or even write my name. But now I know how to read and write. And I help my father with documents.”
00:35 – 00:46
“Today, I feel more comfortable at school than in the fields, because I love studying. If I had stayed in the fields, I would have remained illiterate.”
2. Various shots, Tahirou outside with his father in a yard
3. Various shots, Tahirou writes at school Kadiatou Diallo Kadiatou Diallo is a 13-year-old girl from Tiola, Sikasso Region in Mali. She was previously engaged in child labour, working in the cotton fields. Thanks to the ILO’s ACCEL project, she is now in school, can read and write, and is thriving academically.
4. SOUNDBITE (Bamanakan) Kadiatou Diallo
01:02 – 01:21
“Before going to school, I did household chores and also worked in the cotton fields. Since I was the only one left, as my sisters had gone to the city to work as domestic helpers, I was the only one helping my mother with cooking as well.”
01:21 – 01:30
“Today, I feel fulfilled being in school. Now I know how to read and write — something I couldn't do before.”
01:30 – 01:38
“And when my mother wants to write something, she always comes to me to do it. That is one of the positive things about going to school.”
5. Various shots, Kadiatou reads with older
6. Various shots, Children outside of school in Mali. Jestoni Go Padua Jestoni Go Padua is a 38-year-old from Biñan City, Philippines. He is a school instructor in Laguna. He was involved in child labour from a young age, working in harsh conditions to support his shoemaker family. With support from the ILO and the Open Heart Foundation, he was able to stop working and continue his studies, earning a Diploma in Information Technology through a TESDA scholarship. He now dedicates himself to empowering others through education and skills training.

16 MAY 2025, PHILIPPINES

7.SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Jestoni Go Padua
“My experiences as a child labourer have been a huge help in easing the experiences of other children coming from marginalised sectors.”
02:22 – 02:40
“I also have students who are studying while working. I’ve realised that my experiences as a child labourer help me understand what my students are going through.”
02:41– 02:54
“If the youth are given access to education, it opens wide the avenues that will allow them to get the right kind of jobs.”
7. Various shots, of Jestoni teaching and of his students. Federico Blanco Federico Blanco, Head, Research and Evaluation Unit, Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch, ILO and co-author of the joint ILO-UNICEF report: “Child Labour: Global estimates 2024, trends and the road forward."

5 JUNE 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Federico Blanco, ILO expert and lead author of the Child Labour Report:
“Our latest global estimate presents a story of progress and hope. But the pace is still too slow. Behind every number let's remind ourselves that there is a child whose right to education, protection and decent future is being denied. The report makes clear that isolated efforts won't work. We need integrated policies linking education, social protection and decent work to truly break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and child labour.”
10. Wide shot, Federico Blanco talks about the report at the 113th International Labour Conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Federico Blanco, ILO expert and lead author of the Child Labour Report:
“The latest global estimates present a story of progress and hope, but the rate at which child labour has been declining over time is still very slow. Let us remember that behind every number is a child whose education, protection, and decent future are being denied. The report highlights the need for integrated policies on education, social protection, and decent work for parents, in order to truly break the intergenerational cycle of child labour and poverty.”
[Spanish]
“Las últimas estimaciones mundiales presentan una historia de progreso y de esperanza, pero el ritmo al cual el trabajo infantil ha venido decreciendo en el tiempo es aún muy lento. Recordemos que detrás de cada número hay un niño cuya educación, protección y futuro decente están siendo negados. El informe subraya la necesidad de políticas integradas en materia de educación, protección social y trabajo decente para los padres, para realmente romper el ciclo intergeneracional del trabajo infantil y la pobreza.”
12. Med shot, Federico Blanco talks about the report at the 113th International Labour Conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Storyline

Nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024, including around 54 million in hazardous work likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development, according to new estimates released today (11Jun) by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The latest data show a total reduction of over 20 million children since 2020, reversing an alarming spike between 2016 and 2020. Despite this positive trend, the world has missed its target of eliminating child labour by 2025.

The report, titled “Child Labour: Global estimates 2024, trends and the road forward", released one day ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour and on International Day of Play, underscores a stark reality that while gains have been made, millions of children are still being denied their right to learn, play, and simply be children.