ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is facing a serious child labour crisis, with an estimated 8.6 million children aged 5–17 engaged in labour, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), which has called for urgent and accelerated action to address the issue.
Marking World Day Against Child Labour, the ILO held a media briefing in Islamabad, warning that the scale of the problem highlights deep structural challenges linked to poverty, lack of education, and weak social protection systems.
The organisation also revealed that around 25.1 million children aged 5–16 are currently out of school in Pakistan, while a significant 88% of child labour is concentrated in rural areas, underscoring stark regional and socioeconomic disparities.
According to the ILO, children are engaged across multiple vulnerable sectors, including agriculture, brick kilns, domestic work, waste picking, and informal labour markets, where oversight and protection mechanisms remain limited.
ILO Country Director for Pakistan, Geir T. Tonstol, stressed that child labour is not only a child protection concern but also a broader development, labour rights, and economic issue, driven by poverty, informality, and unequal access to opportunity. He noted that children out of school are significantly more likely to enter the workforce, while those engaged in labour face reduced chances of completing their education — creating a reinforcing cycle of deprivation.
Tonstol stressed that addressing the issue requires more than enforcement alone, calling for quality education, decent work opportunities for adults, improved household incomes, and stronger social protection systems to reduce reliance on child labour.
The ILO urged a coordinated national response involving the federal and provincial governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, civil society, and development partners, particularly in strengthening legislation, labour inspections, and child protection systems.
The organisation also highlighted the importance of responsible business practices, noting that under the EU’s GSP+ trade scheme, Pakistan’s preferential market access is linked to compliance with 27 international conventions, including labour and human rights standards.
“There is both a moral imperative and a strong economic case for ending child labour,” Tonstol said, adding that global buyers and consumers are increasingly demanding supply chains free from exploitative labour practices.
The ILO reaffirmed its continued support for Pakistan through policy guidance, institutional strengthening, awareness campaigns, and targeted interventions in high-risk sectors, as the country observes the World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June as a global call to eliminate child labour in all its forms.
8.6 million children engaged in labour in Pakistan, EU-backed report unveils
