From Marrakesh to the fields: Strengthening the fight against child labour

"130 million children at work means 130 million empty chairs in classrooms-and 130 million adults denied jobs," declared Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour. His words captured a fundamental truth: Employment, decent work and education are inseparable, and only a holistic approach can bring about the eradication of child labour.

From 11-13 February 2026, more than 500 representatives of governments, trade unions, employers and civil society organizations gathered in Marrakesh to adopt a renewed global framework aimed at accelerating action against child labour.

The Marrakesh Global Framework for Action Against Child Labour builds on the commitments first made in Durban and places agriculture and agri-food systems firmly at the center of global efforts. Recognizing that agriculture remains the sector with the highest incidence of child labour worldwide, the Framework strengthens provisions on labour inspection, rural workers' rights, and occupational safety and health. It also more closely aligns child labour elimination with a broader range of ILO standards, including those on social protection, the formalization of informal work, and fundamental principles and rights at work.

The conference further addressed child labour in global supply chains, calling for stronger human rights due diligence, responsible sourcing practices, and the development of effective legislative frameworks. This is particularly significant for workers in export-oriented agriculture and food processing, where corporate purchasing practices and downward price pressures often contribute to labour exploitation.

Crucially, negotiations reaffirmed the central role of public funding in eliminating child labour-especially investment in education, labour inspection systems, and social protection. For the first time at this level, the Framework also recognizes the need to move progressively from minimum wages toward living wages. This acknowledgment reflects a growing understanding that inadequate wages are structurally linked to the persistence of child labour in vulnerable households.

Enhanced monitoring mechanisms and a strengthened role for the ILO Governing Body are intended to ensure greater accountability and measurable progress. For trade unions, this opens new opportunities to connect national strategies on child labour to broader demands for decent work, effective enforcement, and social justice.

For IUF affiliates, the message from Marrakesh is unequivocal: Eliminating child labour in agriculture and across the food chain cannot rely on isolated projects or voluntary corporate initiatives. It requires strong national legislation, robust public institutions, and the full enforcement of labour rights. Decent work for adults remains the most powerful guarantee of a world of work free from child labour.