Peer-reviewed article
The Role of International Business in Eliminating Child Labour
Karolina Kiernozek ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This peer-reviewed article examines the role of international business in addressing child labour globally. Despite the 2015 Sustainable Development Goal commitment to end child labour by 2025, the problem has worsened, with nearly 138 million children engaged in child labour as of 2021. Both the ILO and UNICEF have expressed alarm at this trend, describing it as a failure of the international community to keep its promise. The article positions international business as a potential actor in tackling this persistent challenge.
Key points
- The international community committed to ending child labour by 2025 through the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015
- Child labour numbers increased between 2017 and 2021, contradicting the goal trajectory
- Approximately 138 million children were engaged in child labour globally in 2021
- Both ILO and UNICEF have characterized the situation as alarming
- Child labour remains an intractable global problem despite international commitments
Limitations
The document excerpt provides only the abstract and does not detail the specific findings, methodology, or recommendations regarding international business's role in addressing child labour. We cannot assess the depth of analysis, evidence presented, or actionable solutions proposed.
Abstract
Abstract In 2015, the international community – by adopting Sustainable Development Goals – made a promise to end child labour by 2025. Despite that, in the Year of the Elimination of Child Labour (2021), according to global estimates, more children were engaged in child labour than four years before. The situation has been deemed alarming by both the ILO and the UNICEF . Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, then called the new estimates a ‘wake-up call’. Currently, nearly 138 million children are still working worldwide. Therefore, the international community has failed to keep this promise, and child labour remains an intractable problem.