Türkiye Reaffirms Push to End Child Labour on World Day

UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi said every child has the right to education, protection and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Government officials, United Nations agencies, employers, workers' organisations and civil society representatives gathered in Türkiye to mark World Day Against Child Labour, renewing calls for stronger and more coordinated efforts to eliminate child labour. The high-level roundtable, organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was held under the auspices of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Türkiye.

Participants reviewed progress made in tackling child labour while discussing practical ways to accelerate action in line with the Marrakech Framework for Action, adopted at the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour.

UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi said every child has the right to education, protection and the opportunity to reach their full potential. He noted that ending child labour remains closely connected to achieving broader Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Target 8.7, which aims to eliminate child labour in all its forms.

Prevention and social protection remain key priorities

ILO Türkiye Director Yasser Hassan highlighted recent global findings showing that progress against child labour is possible when governments and partners take determined action. He stressed that child labour is not simply about whether a child works, but also about the conditions they face and the impact on their education, health and development.

Hassan pointed to hazardous work as one of the most serious concerns, affecting children across different age groups around the world. Strong social protection systems were identified as one of the most effective tools for prevention. Participants also discussed the importance of education access, poverty reduction and support for vulnerable families in reducing the factors that push children into labour.

The meeting highlighted international labour standards, including ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age and Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, both of which have been ratified by Türkiye.

New challenges emerge in a changing world

Discussions also focused on emerging risks linked to digital transformation and technological change. While technology can improve productivity and create new opportunities, Hassan warned that it can also expose children to new forms of exploitation, including technology-facilitated commercial sexual exploitation. Participants agreed that child protection must remain central as digital tools become increasingly integrated into society and the economy.

Representatives from UNICEF and FAO emphasized the need for child-sensitive social protection programmes, quality education, rural development initiatives and stronger support for family farming and women's economic empowerment. Türkiye's Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security, Lutfihak Alpkan, highlighted progress made through national policies and legal frameworks, including the National Employment Strategy 2025–2028, which focuses on inclusive employment, skills development, rural growth and economic transformation.

Worker and employer organisations also reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated action through social dialogue and partnerships. The event concluded with participants raising red cards against child labour, symbolising support for the ILO's 2026 global campaign to accelerate efforts toward ending child labour and protecting the rights of children worldwide.