There are approximately 2.4 billion minors around the world who are aged below 18 years.Nearly 138 million of these children – about one in 17 – are engaged in child labour, including 54 million in hazardous work that endangers their health and safety, according to estimates by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF.On World Day Against Child Labour, Al Jazeera takes a look at the latest numbers on child labour, the industries where it is most prevalent and the countries and regions bearing the heaviest burdens. Children doing hazardous jobsIn 2015, the United Nations set a goal to end child labour worldwide by 2025. That deadline has now passed. Although the total number of children in child labour has declined, two in five of those children still work in hazardous jobs that often involve heavy physical labour, exposure to toxic chemicals, dangerous machinery, long hours, or unsafe environments.Of the 54 million in hazardous work:
10.3 million (about 1 in 5) are aged 5-11
12.8 million (about 1 in 4) are aged 12-14
30.8 million (about 4 in 7) are aged 15-17
UNICEF and the ILO warn that such work can cause injury, illness and lasting damage to a child’s physical and mental development. Many of the children doing these jobs are also missing out on school, trapping families in cycles of poverty tha …
