Child Labour at a Crossroads: The 8 Pressure Points Shaping 2026
Child labour is at a crossroads. As global systems come under strain, eight critical pressure points are reshaping how governments, businesses, and civil society must act in 2026.
ECLT in numbers
Since 2011, ECLT has supported over 1,400,000 children, farmers and families in the fight against child labour.
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96,000 +
families
in tobacco-growing communities were financially empowered
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33,000 +
children
were sent to school and benefited from vocational training
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204,000+
children
were removed or kept away from child labour
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711,000+
community members
were reached through awareness-raising activities
About child labour
Child labour is work which puts children's health, safety, education and development at risk.
160 million
children are involved in child labour worldwide
79 million
children are doing work which is hazardous.
Over 70%
of child labour is in agriculture
262 million
children and youth are out of school
Latest news
Highlights of our work around the world
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03.02.2026 -
05.12.2025 Amina’s path from vulnerability to voice in rural Tanzania
From low yields to new ambitions, Amina’s story in Mole village shows the power of community-led change. With the right tools and support, her savings group helped turn uncertainty into stability and hope. When rural families shape the decisions that affect them, progress takes root and futures shift. As we move toward the VI Global Conference in Morocco (2026), her voice reminds us that effective action must start from the ground up.
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28.11.2025 A path built through resilience: How savings groups are strengthening livelihoods and child protection in Tanzania?
In Kalemela B, Tanzania, a village savings group is showing how progress takes hold when farmers lead their own development. Through the Tumaini VSLA, members like Asia Salum turn local knowledge into practical solutions: investing in groundnuts, livestock and collective goat-rearing. When people decide together, incomes stabilise, children stay in school, and communities build systems that withstand shocks. As we look toward Morocco 2026, their experience reminds us that lasting change begins with inclusion and the voices of those closest to the challenge.
