In spite of ratification of several standards and instruments, child labour incidence remains high in Africa. This is due partly to weak application and enforcement of the provisions of these instruments. We have also noticed African economies recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic effects remain slow.

Child labour is fuelled by a toxic mix of poverty, social inequalities, lack of access to quality public services (education, health, social protection), armed conflicts, forced displacements, and weak enforcement of labour laws. It is a blatant human rights violation and a major obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Target 8.7 of the 2030 Agenda.

ITUC-Africa firmly believes that trade unions have an essential role to play in the fight against child labour. This role is exercised through various avenues, including the organization of workers in the informal economy, where child labour is most prevalent, and the support for agricultural workers, who are concentrated in the sector most affected by this scourge. Trade unions must also actively engage in social dialogue with employers and public authorities to advocate for the adoption and implementation of robust public policies.

Moreover, our campaign for living wages and the establishment of universal social protection systems, recognizing that families must not be forced to depend on the labour of their children in order to survive.

We call on all our affiliates and partners to scale up awareness-raising efforts in communities, to expose hidden forms of child labour (especially in domestic work), and to intensify advocacy for government accountability and action.

Ending child labour requires us to confront the dominant economic model that prioritizes profit over people. For the African trade union movement, this struggle is not only about protecting children – it is about shaping an Africa where young people have access to education, decent work, and a dignified future.

On the occasion of this year world day against Child labour, we urge African governments to:
• Strengthen and enforce national laws prohibiting child labour, including in rural and informal settings;
• Allocate sufficient resources to labour inspection services and social justice mechanisms;
• Invest massively in free, quality, and inclusive education;
• Implement comprehensive social protection systems for vulnerable families.

We also call on multinational corporations, particularly those operating in mining, agriculture, textiles, and tech industries, to:
• Map and audit their supply chains with transparency;
• Implement human rights-based due diligence mechanisms;
• End all forms of complicity in child labour exploitation.

Eliminating child labour is not only a moral obligation - it is an investment in Africa’s development, resilience, and peace. No nation can thrive while sacrificing its children to economic desperation and social neglect.

In solidarity!
Akhator Joel Odigie
General Secretary
Issued in Lome, on 12th June 2025