“COVID-19 may push millions more children into child labour – ILO and UNICEF”, 12 June 2020

Millions more children risk being pushed into child labour as a result of the COVID-19 crisis … according to a new brief from the …ILO and UNICEF.

Children already in child labour may be … under worsening conditions... More of them may be forced into the worst forms of labour…

… COVID-19 could result in a rise in poverty and therefore to an increase in child labour ... Some studies show that a one percentage point rise in poverty leads to at least a 0.7 per cent increase in child labour in certain countries.

Vulnerable population groups – such as those working in the informal economy and migrant workers – will suffer most from economic downturn, increased informality and unemployment … among other pressures.

… [W]hen classes restart, some parents may no longer be able to afford to send their children to school.

… Gender inequalities may grow more acute, with girls particularly vulnerable to exploitation in agriculture and domestic work…

The brief proposes a number of measures … including more comprehensive social protection, easier access to credit … the promotion of decent work for adults, measures to get children back into school … and more resources for labour inspections and law enforcement.