31/05/2026
The World Day Against Child Labor is an International Labour Organization (ILO)-sanctioned holiday first launched in 2002 aiming to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labor. It was spurred by ratifications of ILO Convention No. 138 on the minimum age for employment and ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor.
The Philippines observes the World Day Against Child Labor annually on June 12, coinciding with Independence Day. The 2026 global campaign adopts the international theme "Red card to child labor: Fair play for children, decent work for adults" while the national theme is โIkaw, Ako, Tayo: Sama-samang Pagkilos para sa Batang Malayaโ. This theme highlights the need to intensify collective action to sustain gains achieved in the countryโs ongoing efforts to eliminate child labor.
Background:
The World Day Against Child Labor was first established in the year 2002 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to draw constant attention to the issue of child labor and to revise and revisit our strategies to eliminate child labor. It has been 19 years since 2002, and the World Day Against Child Labor is observed on 12 June every year. The United Nations General Assembly while acknowledging the magnitude of child labor, unanimously adopted a resolution declaring 2021 as the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor and has asked the ILO to take the lead in its implementation. This day brings together governments, local authorities, civil society and international, workers and employers' organizations to point out the child labor problem and define the guidelines to help child laborers.
According to ILO's data, hundreds of millions of girls and boys worldwide are involved in work that deprives them of receiving adequate education, health, leisure and basic freedoms, violating this way their rights. Of these children, more than half are exposed to the worst forms of child labor. These worst forms of child labor include work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labor, illicit activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict. / International Labour Organization
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