Child Labor Remains a Difficult-to-Quantify Global Issue, Exacerbated by Climate Change

Child labor remains a persistent global problem that has been worsened by the impacts of climate change, according to a recent report by Quartz. Despite efforts to combat the issue, progress has stalled for the first time in two decades, making it increasingly challenging to measure the true extent of child labor worldwide.

The report highlights the development of a new quantitative approach called the Child Labor Index, which scores companies in three key areas: disclosure levels, public perception, and the commodity-level exposure of their supply chains to child labor. This tool aims to help fund managers identify high-risk companies and those that need to address the issue of child labor in their operations.

In Afghanistan, the situation has become particularly dire, with at least 1 million children forced to work due to the economic crisis and humanitarian disaster following the Taliban's seizure of power in 2021. Soaring inflation and mass unemployment have led to as many as one-fifth of Afghan families sending their children to work, with the number expected to grow as the crises worsen.

Why this matters: The global decline in human rights and the threat to the world order, coupled with the impacts of climate change, have contributed to the increase in child labor. Addressing this issue requires urgent action and collaboration from governments, organizations, and companies worldwide to meet the international commitment to end child labor by 2025.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) assists countries in collecting, documenting, and analyzing child labor statistics, while the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) sets global standards to facilitate international comparability. Activists have called on the Taliban to address the issue in Afghanistan, but the militant group has not outlined any plans to do so. As the economic and humanitarian crises continue to unfold, the fight against child labor remains a critical global challenge that threatens and demands immediate attention and research.

Key Takeaways

• Child labor remains a persistent global problem, worsened by climate change.
• New Child Labor Index helps identify high-risk companies and address child labor.
• In Afghanistan, 1 million children forced to work due to economic crisis.
• Decline in human rights and climate change contribute to rise in child labor.
• Urgent action and collaboration needed to end child labor by 2025 commitment.