The United States Department of Labor published its 2024 annual report on child labour (September 2025). The report delves into the prevalence and sectoral distribution of the worst forms of child labour in each country, as well as country-specific suggestions for government action. It also provides individual country assessments that identify where Significant, Moderate, Minimal, or No Advancement has been made since 2011.
Human Level’s Take:
Nearly 138 million children worldwide are engaged in child labour, with 54 million working in hazardous conditions that pose direct threats to their health and safety
Agriculture accounts for the majority (61%) of child labour cases globally, while services (27%) and industry (13%) also continue to employ children in significant numbers
Digital platforms have created new risks through online recruitment, hidden payments, and surveillance, but they are also enabling progress with tools like reporting systems, digital inspector logs, and AI-powered detection to identify and combat exploitation
Country progress is uneven. In 2024, nine countries - including Argentina, Mexico, Thailand, and Moldova - achieved the highest assessment of Significant Advancement, showing progress in education laws, enforcement systems, and coordination. However, 63 countries were rated Moderate Advancement, 46 Minimal Advancement, and 12 received No Advancement, often due to failure to take meaningful or systemic steps to prevent child labour
Despite progress, deep structural weaknesses remain:
Legal standards: Over a quarter of recommended actions highlight weak or incomplete child labour laws, with some governments failing to set a minimum compulsory education age or align legislation with international norms
Enforcement shortfalls: Many countries lack adequately funded, staffed, and trained inspectorates, leaving violations undetected or unpunished. Weak penalties, corruption, and impunity - such as the failure to prosecute complicit officials in India’s agriculture and brick kilns - undermine deterrence
Coordination failures: In some places, no centralised body exists to lead anti–child labour efforts; in others, coordination committees exist in name only, unable to enforce mandates or unify government responses
Policy gaps: At least 40 governments lack policies that cover all forms of child labour, leaving areas such as child trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation under-addressed
Insufficient programmes: Social protection systems often remain too limited, with few targeted interventions for trafficking survivors, children in hazardous work, or those combining school with work. Many countries also lack basic labour surveys or reliable child labour statistics, hindering evidence-based policymaking
So, what companies can do? The report states that businesses can play a critical role in addressing child labour. They can transform their supply chain monitoring, strengthen their risk assessment protocols, and modernise their enforcement systems. Companies can also consider advocating for stronger government policies and laws on child labour
