Nur shines a light on a book while smiling and wearing a purple polo shirt at a multi-purpose centre in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Ending child labour

for safer, happier childhoods

Home > What we do > Protecting children > Ending child labour

What is child labour?

Child labour is work that children are too young to do. It’s often difficult and dangerous, putting children’s health – and sometimes their lives– at risk.

It’s healthy for children to help with light household chores or take on age-appropriate summer jobs outside of school. Child labour, on the other hand, impacts children’s development and limits their time to learn, play and rest.

At UNICEF, we believe that every child has the right to protection. We work with partners, communities and families to identify the pressures that push children into dangerous labour – and to tackle them.

Despite progress, 138 million children around the world are still involved in child labour.

Why does child labour exist?

Poverty, conflict and climate shocks all influence how child labour occurs around the world. In addition, labour practices from colonial eras have had a lasting impact, such as the way land was taken from communities who were forced into low-paid work. This triggered the cycle of poverty through generations, limiting opportunities for families to have safe, fair livelihoods today.

Children are often pushed into harmful work when families face economic pressures, crises, or limited access to education. All of which increase risks to their safety, well-being, and future.

Migrant or refugee children escaping conflict or disasters can be more vulnerable to trafficking or child labour — especially when travelling alone.

Meet Nur

Nur was just seven years old when he and his family were forced to flee their home in Myanmar in 2017. They sought safety in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where Nur still lives today. At home, he faced physical abuse and was taken out of a learning centre to work.

Alongside local partners, we have set up multi-purpose centres for women and children facing similar challenges.

These centres provide safe spaces, psychosocial support, and life-skills sessions. Salauddin, a case worker at the centre, worked with Nur’s family to address the violence at home and support Nur’s return to learning.

“When I return home after each life skill session, I share the positive and awareness messages with my parents,” says Nur. “I can see a change in them too. I once dreamt of becoming a teacher. I thought I would never be able to become one. But now, I feel that I can learn and become a teacher like I always wanted to.”

Types of child labour

The most common types of child labour can include:

  • Agriculture: The most common type of child labour occurs in agriculture, with 61% of children in child labour working on farms or other agricultural activities.
  • Services: 27% of child labour occurs in services, including domestic work, small‑scale commerce and other service activities.
  • Industry: Industry, including construction, manufacturing and mining, accounts for the remaining 13%.

Support our work to end child labour

You can support efforts to end child labour by donating to UNICEF. Flexible donations allow us to further our work around the world to protect children and tackle child labour by:

  • Strengthening social service systems to provide local, culturally-sensitive child protection, including identification and referral.
  • Enabling universal access to quality education, even during emergencies, through digital learning such as Learning Passport and play centres.
  • Providing fair, dignified work for young people and caregivers, including the right to organise and advocate for their interests.
  • Calling for governments to enforce laws that protect children across industries and supply chains.