ILO calls for Stronger Measures as Child Labour in Pakistan affects 8.6 Million Children

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 highl