Accelerating global action to eliminate child labour in the fisheries and aquaculture sector
On World Food Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched a new "Policy guidance on the elimination of child labour in fisheries and aquaculture."
©FAO/Lynn El Jbeily
On World Food Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched a new Policy guidance on the elimination of child labour in fisheries and aquaculture. The publication aims to help governments, employers, workers, civil society and other partners tackle the root causes of child labour in aquatic food supply chains.
The launch took place during an event held in the context of the World Food Forum, which brought together youth leaders, worker representatives, policymakers, and international experts. The event underscored a shared commitment: eliminating child labour remains urgent, and possible.
A persistent global challenge
When the international community adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, it pledged to end child labour in all its forms by 2025. While progress has been made, multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have slowed advances.
Child labour persists in many communities and sectors. According to the latest global estimates released by ILO and UNICEF, in 2024, 138 million children, 59 million girls and 78 million boys, were engaged in child labour, representing almost eight percent of all children worldwide. More than 54 million are in hazardous work.
The vast majority, 61 percent, work in the broader agricultural sector, which includes fisheries and aquaculture.
Understanding the root causes
The newly launched guidance document retraces the drivers of child labour in fisheries and aquaculture. These include poverty, social inequality, lack of decent work opportunities, weak social protection systems, inadequate education infrastructure, and persistent cultural norms that can influence children’s participation in economic activities, especially in rural and coastal communities.
The publication updates the 2013 FAO–ILO Guidance, following a request from ILO tripartite constituents to strengthen understanding and response to child labour in the sector. It also draws on a background study conducted in 2024.
“As we move forward, we must reaffirm our global commitment to SDG 8.7 and accelerate efforts to eliminate child labour in fisheries, aquaculture and all agricultural sub-sectors,” said Manuel Barange, FAO Assistant Director-General, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, during the launch event. “This requires investing in social protection, quality education, and decent rural employment to address root causes, strengthen corporate responsibility, and empower youth, women and local communities as active agents of change."
A collective effort to drive change
The event featured a dynamic panel, including Ellena Kavarera (Indonesian Coastal Youth Union), Kuliny Chuol (fish trader from South Sudan), Kirill Buketov (International Union of Food and Allied Workers), and Lauren Phillips (Deputy Director, FAO Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division).
Participants shared experiences from the field, emphasizing the importance of prevention, awareness, and coordinated action at all levels. Elvis Beytullayev, ILO Rural Economy Specialist, said that action was needed in all four pillars of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, namely the promotion of rights at work, decent employment and sustainable enterprise development, social protection and social dialogue. FAO specialist Daniela Kalikoski presented the main recommendations of the new guidance and underlined the shared responsibility of all stakeholders.
Key messages
The FAO–ILO Policy Guidance on the Elimination of Child Labour in Fisheries and Aquaculture provides concrete policy and programmatic actions to support governments and partners in tackling child labour in aquatic food value chains. It calls for a rights-based, multisectoral and inclusive approach, consistent with the Durban Call to Action. Key messages include:
- Child labour is unacceptable – It denies children their rights, perpetuates poverty and undermines sustainable development.
- Prevention is the priority – Decent work for adults, responsible business practices, access to quality education for children, and effective social protection are essential foundations for eliminating child labour.
- Remediation is essential – Where child labour exists, responses must ensure safe and adequate alternatives for children, including reintegration into education, access to psychosocial support, and social protection for them and their families.
- A strong enabling environment is critical – National laws, policies and enforcement systems should explicitly cover fisheries and aquaculture and align with international labour standards and other relevant instruments.
- All stakeholders have responsibilities – Governments, industry, employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society and communities must work together, supported by international partners.
- Evidence and knowledge must guide action – Data gaps need to be filled, and good practices documented and scaled up to inform effective interventions.
- Building resilience is key – Integrated strategies that address climate change, economic shocks and migration pressures are essential to reduce vulnerabilities that drive child labour.
The way forward
Looking ahead, the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, to be hosted by the Government of Morocco in 2026, will represent the next major opportunity to take stock of progress, renew global commitment, and chart the way forward to end child labour in all its forms.
“The prevention and effective elimination of child labour is a complex task which requires collective action. All stakeholders have responsibilities and important roles to play,” said Frank Hagemann, Director of the Sectoral Policies Department of the ILO. “Strengthening workers’ and employers’ organizations in the fisheries and aquaculture sector is crucial for enhancing and advancing these efforts. The support of the donor community is critical to ensure the continuity and success of our joint efforts.”
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Article originally published on: SocPro4Fish | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations