ISLAMABAD: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director for Pakistan, Geir Tonstol, has cautioned that Pakistan’s ability to sustain and expand its trade with key markets such as the United States and the European Union may increasingly depend on how effectively it addresses child labour, a persistent issue that continues to draw international scrutiny.

“8.6 million child labourers is a significant and worrying number and does not help Pakistan’s case,” Mr Tonstol said, highlighting the need for stronger action on education, decent work, social protection and responsible business practices to address the root causes of child labour.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, Geir Tonstol said an estimated 8.6 million children aged 5-17 were engaged in child labour in Pakistan, underscoring the need for accelerated efforts to tackle its root causes and ensure that every child has access to education, protection and opportunities to reach their full potential.

Discussing the child labour situation in Pakistan and the collective efforts needed to address it, he said recent evidence also indicated that around 25.1 million children aged 5-16 remained out of school, while 88 per cent of child labour was concentrated in rural areas. “Child labour continues to affect children across a range of sectors, including agriculture, brick kilns, domestic work, waste-picking and other parts of the informal economy,” he said.

Speaking at the briefing, the ILO country director emphasised that child labour was not only a child protection issue but also a fundamental rights, decent work and development challenge.

“Child labour reflects poverty, informality, unequal opportunities, barriers to education and gaps in social protection. Addressing it requires more than enforcement alone. It requires quality education, decent work opportunities for adults, adequate incomes and stronger social protection for vulnerable families,” said Mr Tonstol.

He noted that child labour and school exclusion were closely linked. Children who were out of school faced a greater risk of entering work, while children engaged in labour were less likely to complete their education.

The ILO official called for a comprehensive response involving government institutions, employers’ and workers’ organisations, civil society, development partners and the media.

He said the federal government had an important role in policy coherence, coordination and implementation of national and international commitments, while provincial governments played a critical role in legislation, labour inspection, child protection, education and enforcement.

The ILO country director highlighted that progress on child labour was closely linked to Pakistan’s broader development priorities and international commitments. Under the European Union’s GSP+ scheme, Pakistan’s preferential access to EU markets is linked to the effective implementation of 27 international conventions, including core labour and human rights standards.

“There is both a moral imperative and a strong economic case for ending child labour. Responsible businesses, buyers and consumers increasingly expect supply chains to be free from child labour and other unacceptable forms of work,” said Tonstol.

Observed annually on June 12, the World Day Against Child Labour serves as a global call to action to eliminate child labour in all its forms and ensure that every child can learn, play and develop in a safe and supportive environment.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2026