While 2021 was dubbed the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, the number of children in labor —160 million at 2020 — rose for the first time in two decades, according to estimates by the International Labour Organization and UNICEF.
However, with the latest data gathered before the COVID-19 pandemic sent many families into poverty, its compounding effect on child labor is still to be seen, although 9 million additional children are at risk of being pushed into child labor by the end of the year. That number could rise to 46 million if children lack access to critical social protection coverage, according to ILO simulation models.
It’s been more than two years since the pandemic affected everything from health systems to economies to classrooms, yet many of the repercussions are only now coming to the fore.
About the author
Natalie Donback
Natalie Donback is a freelance journalist and editor based in Barcelona, where she covers climate change, global health, and the impact of technology on communities. Previously, she was an editor and reporter at Devex, covering aid and the humanitarian sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in development studies from Lund University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Barcelona and Columbia Journalism School.
