Red card to child labour campaign engages Indonesian youth

This event empowers young people to raise their voices against child labour in Indonesia. 6/2026

JAKARTA (Joint Press Release) - The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, marked the World Day Against Child Labour on Friday, 12 June, through a student awareness campaign on ending child labour in all its forms. The event was held under this year's global theme, "Red card to child labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults."

Supported by the ILO's Realizing trade gains free from gender discrimination and child labour (RealGains) project, funded by the Government of Canada, the campaign brought together more than 100 students from the Faculty of Law of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, as well as representatives of government institutions, employers' and workers' organizations and other ILO partners. The event aimed to raise awareness of child labour among young people and encouraged them to take part in efforts to end child labour in Indonesia.

Universities have an important role in fostering awareness and encouraging collective action to protect children and support inclusive development.

Asmin Fransiska, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia

Through interactive knowledge-sharing sessions, participants learned about the collaborative steps being taken by the Government of Indonesia, employers' and workers' organizations as well as other stakeholders to tackle child labour and address its main causes, including poverty, limited access to education and the lack of decent work opportunities for adults.

"Atma Jaya Catholic University is proud to collaborate with the ILO in empowering young people to become advocates for social justice and children's rights. Universities have an important role in fostering awareness and encouraging collective action to protect children and support inclusive development," said Asmin Fransiska, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia.

Abdul Rohim shares his inspiring journey of overcoming hardship and breaking the cycle of child labour. 6/2026

A key highlight of the event was the testimony of Abdul Rohim, who shared his inspiring journey of overcoming hardship and breaking the cycle of child labour. As a child, Abdul worked as a street singer to help support his family. Later with the support of ILO, he participated various training programmes under the ILO's child labour initiatives in Indonesia, which helped broaden his opportunities and strengthen his capacity to pursue a better future.

Today, Abdul leads a non-governmental organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for vulnerable children and communities. His story demonstrates how access to education, skills development and support services can help children and families build a better future.

The event also featured a range of interactive and educational activities, including games, music performances and awareness-raising initiatives. These activities encouraged students to actively engage with the campaign messages, demonstrate their commitment to ending child labour, and amplify the campaign through their own networks and social media platforms.

A music performance by children raising awareness of the issue of child labour in Indonesia. 6/2026

"The fight against child labour is not only about protecting children today; it is about investing in a better future for society as a whole. Every child belongs in school, not at work," said Simrin Singh, the ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste. "This campaign highlights that ending child labour is a shared responsibility. Thus, we hope the young people participating today will be inspired to use their voices and leadership to help create a future where every child can learn, thrive and fulfil their potential."

The World Day Against Child Labour is observed annually on 12 June to draw attention to the global efforts needed to eliminate child labour. According to the latest global estimates released by the ILO and UNICEF, nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour worldwide in 2024, including around 54 million children in hazardous work that endangers their health, safety and development.

This campaign highlights that ending child labour is a shared responsibility. Thus, we hope the young people participating today will be inspired to use their voices and leadership to help create a future where every child can learn, thrive and fulfil their potential.

Simrin Singh, the ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste

Child labour also remains a challenge in Indonesia. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), an estimated 1.05 million children aged 5-17 years were engaged in work in 2024, accounting for approximately 1.8 per cent of children in that age group. While Indonesia has made important progress in reducing child labour over the years, these figures underscore the need for continued and coordinated action to address its root causes, including poverty, limited access to quality education, inadequate social protection and vulnerabilities faced by families in the informal economy.

The ILO continues to work with governments, employers' and workers' organizations, civil society, academia and development partners in Indonesia to advance policies and programmes that prevent and eliminate child labour, while promoting decent work and social justice for all.

For further information, please contact:
Dede Sudono
ILO's Coordinator of RealGains Project in Indonesia
Email: [email protected]

Gita Lingga
ILO Senior Information and Communications Management Assistant
Email: [email protected]