World Day Against Child Labour 2025: Date, Meaning, Theme, History, Facts, and Famous Quotes

World Day Against Child Labour 2025:  Every year, World Day Against Child Labour is observed on 12th June with the aim to spread awareness about the prevalent conditions of children engaged in hazardous working conditions, and motivate actions to eradicate the social evil from the roots.  

Child Labour Date & Meaning

An annual occurrence observed on 12th June globally, World Day Against Child Labour works towards making this world free of child labourers who are stripped of good education, well-being, and health for the demand for a large and cheap working force in risky environments. 

Child labour 

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) states that not all work done by children can be classified as child labour. 

By ILO’s definition, “The term child labour is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

It refers to work that:

-is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or

-interferes with their schooling by: depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.” 

Theme 

The theme for World Day Against Child Labour for this year is, “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: Let’s speed up efforts!” that acknowledges the achievements made in the journey to eliminate child labour from the world and underscoring the pressing need to still help millions of children engaged in exploitative working conditions. 

History 

The annual observance of World Day Against Child Labour started in 2002, when the ILO first established the day.  ILO adopted the 'Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention (No. 182)' in 1999, and ILO Convention No. 138, which found the minimum age for employment to be 18.

Facts About Child Labour In India 

The data from the International Labour Organization reveals the state of child labour in India.

ILO states- 

• “As per Census 2011, the total child population in India in the age group (5-14) years is 259.6 million. Of these, 10.1 million (3.9% of the total child population) are working, either as a ‘main worker’ or as a ‘marginal worker’. In addition, more than 42.7 million children in India are out of school.” 
• States with a high incidence of child labour include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, constituting nearly 55% of total working children in India.”

Famous Quotes on Child Labour 

“Child labour perpetuates poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, population growth, and other social problems.” - Kailash Satyarthi

“Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labour in my lifetime” - Kailash Satyarthi

“Safety and security don’t just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.” - Nelson Mandela

“Every child deserves a childhood free from exploitation and abuse.” – Malala Yousafzai

“There is no justification for child labour. The child is the future of our nation. Let us allow him to develop physically, mentally, and morally.” – Mahatma Gandhi