Child labour elimination requires collective action: Labour Minister

Bangladesh has made notable progress in reducing child labour, but sustained efforts from government agencies, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners and civil society remain essential to eradicate the practice completely.
Held under the global theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” the discussion sessions and cultural programme were jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), the Child Labour Elimination Platform (CLEP), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the capital on Monday, marking the “World Day Against Child Labour 2026”.
The event was graced by Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, Minister of Labour and Employment and Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, as the Chief Guest. Abdur Rahman Tarafder, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, chaired the programme, while Mr Max Tunon, Country Director, ILO Bangladesh, attended as the Special Guest.
Speaking as the Chief Guest, Ariful Haque Choudhury, called for a radical shift in how the nation tackles child labour, urging organisations to move beyond expensive seminars and focus on grassroots awareness.
The Minister highlighted the uncomfortable reality that child labour is often hidden in plain sight, even within the homes of those discussing the issue.
“We need social awareness,” he stated, noting that while many national and international organisations have worked on this for years, the reality on the ground remains challenging.
He argued that the funds spent on “beautiful booklets,” “paper decorations,” and “seminars and symposiums” would be better utilised if redirected toward pilot programmes in slum areas.
“As the Minister of this department, I want to see several sustainable pilot programmes by next year,” he said, challenging officials and NGOs to identify the regions with the highest rates of child labour and implement targeted pilot programmes there.
A key pillar of the Minister’s proposed strategy involves mobilising religious and community leaders to reach the 80 per cent of the population to create awareness.
He urged the Islamic Foundation to encourage Imams to discuss the rights of children during Friday Khutbahs (sermons).
“If the message reaches the mosques, it will reach every home very quickly,” the Minister explained, adding that the same approach should be taken through the Ramakrishna Mission, Buddhist temples, and Christian churches.
Reflecting on his own journey from a local councillor and mayor to a cabinet minister, Choudhury emphasised that the responsibility cannot lie with the government or a single agency alone.
He invited all serious organisations to collaborate on measurable goals, such as the percentage of children successfully transitioned from labour back into the classroom.
“This country belongs to all of us. My doors are open. Let us sit together and see what work we can do for the country to ensure that by the next Labour Day, we have tangible progress to report”, he concluded.
In his speech, Abdul Hamid, Country Director of Educo Bangladesh, emphasized the sector-based approach to eliminating child labour and highlighted the collaborative efforts being undertaken by CLEP.
Meanwhile, Max Tunon, Country Director of ILO Bangladesh, stressed the importance of a coordinated approach among relevant departments of government, development partners and civil societies to end child labour.
The event began with a welcome address by Mohammad Farhad Siddique, Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE).
“Currently, 1.78 million children are engaged in child labour in Bangladesh, of whom 1.07 million are involved in hazardous work. We have identified 43 sectors as hazardous for children and have already declared eight sectors—including tannery, ceramics, garments and footwear—free from child labour,” said Farhad Siddique.
A presentation on the progress and challenges of child labour elimination highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce child labour and improve protection mechanisms for vulnerable children. A television campaign video was also screened during the programme.
A panel discussion titled “Effective Steps and Shared Responsibilities to Eliminate Child Labour in Bangladesh ” focused on policy measures, enforcement mechanisms and the role of various stakeholders in addressing child labour.
Panel speakers included Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS); Munira Sultana, Lead for Child Labour and Safe Work for Youth at ILO Bangladesh; and Rajekuzzaman Ratan, President of the Socialist Workers Front.
The discussants stressed the coordination and the need for stronger social protection, improved access to quality education, enhanced labour inspections and greater awareness among employers and communities to prevent children from entering hazardous work.
“Low wages of parents are pushing parents to engage their children to work. The source of child labour has to be stopped. Parents needs decent income,” Rajekuzzaman said.
A drama performance focusing on child labour and children’s rights was also staged, highlighting the social and economic consequences of child exploitation.
In his concluding remarks, Md Abdur Rahman Tarafder, said Bangladesh remains committed to achieving a child labour-free future through effective policy implementation, stakeholder engagement and strengthened enforcement.