Against Child Labour Day – To spread awareness against child labour in our society, the United Nations (UN) observes the International Day Against Child Labour on June 12 every year. Each year, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.

The theme for this year’s U.N. observance is “End child labour in supply chains – It’s everyone’s business.”

It was launched in 2002 by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The day against child labour is observed to give global attention to the issues faced by children across the world and to take effective measures to eliminate it.

The U.N. states that more than 168 million children are still in child labour. This year, the focus for World Day Against Child Labour is on child labour and supply chains. With 168 million children still in child labour, all supply chains, from agriculture to manufacturing, services to construction, run the risk that child labour may be present,” according to the U.N. website.

To support businesses in their actions to remove child labour from their supply chains, the ILO and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) have jointly created the Child Labour Guidance Tool, a resource for companies to increase their knowledge and ability to conduct business in line with international labour standards on child labour.