ILO and UNICEF: One and a half billion children without family or child support
A recent joint study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) found that more than 160 million children are employed worldwide, meaning one in ten children aged five to 17.
It is estimated that due to the growth of poverty and social threat, that number could increase by another 8,9 million by the end of the year.
"Social protection reduces poverty and family vulnerability - key causes of child labor," the ILO and UNICEF said in a statement, adding that "too little progress has been made in ensuring that all children enjoy social protection."
Worldwide, 73,6 percent, or approximately 1,5 billion children under the age of 14, do not receive family or child benefits, so the ILO and UNICEF say the large social gap must be bridged quickly.
"Governments can implement policies to improve social protection, but if policymakers do not act decisively, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing war conflicts, growing poverty and climate change will only increase the prevalence of child labor," the study said. transmits Beta.
In order to eliminate child labor, the ILO and UNICEF have defined a number of recommendations, including expanding the social protection of two billion workers in the informal economy, building integrated social protection systems and upgrading the political commitment to end child labor. says in a statement.