World Day Against Child Labour 2025: Date, History, Significance and This Year’s Theme

World Day Against Child Labour is observed every year on 12 June to raise awareness about the continuing problem of child labour and to encourage global action to eliminate it. The day reminds us of the urgent need to protect children from forced work and to support their education, health, and rights.

Why the Day Is Observed

The day aims to highlight the importance of building a world where no child is forced into labour that affects their physical or mental development. In many parts of the world, especially in developing countries, children are still engaged in work that is unsuitable for their age or capacity. This often results in them missing out on education and growing up in unhealthy environments.

Theme for 2025

The theme for World Day Against Child Labour 2025 is: ‘Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: let’s speed up efforts!’ This year’s message recognises the global progress made in reducing child labour, but also stresses that the journey is not over. It calls on governments, organisations, and individuals to increase their commitment and efforts.

History

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched World Day Against Child Labour in 2002, with the first observance taking place on June 12 at the ILO headquarters in Geneva. Since then, the day has been recognised globally. The year 2025 marks 21 years of this international effort to eliminate child labour.

Importance of the Day

The day is not just about awareness, it also calls for real action. It supports global initiatives and national policies that aim to eliminate child labour. In India, the National Policy on Child Labour, introduced in 1987, focuses on the rehabilitation of child workers and on reducing poverty, which is often the root cause.

Programmes under this policy help affected children return to school and provide support to their families so they do not have to depend on a child’s income.

The observance of this day is a reminder that the world must continue to work together to ensure that all children have a safe, healthy and secure childhood. Though progress has been made, millions of children are still trapped in exploitative work. Ending child labour completely requires stronger laws, better implementation, access to education, and global cooperation.