The United States has said its diplomats around the world collaborate with international partners to ensure high labour standards, bring workers’ voices to the decision-making table, and enforce rules against unfair labour practices, including forced labour and denial of the right to organise.

"These actions to help adult workers are critical to eliminate the worst forms of child labour," said US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement.

On World Day Against Child Labor on Wednesday, the US reaffirmed that children must not be subjected to hazardous work or criminal exploitation.  

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates eleven percent of the world’s children engage in work that is hazardous to their health and development, interferes with their education, demands too many hours, or is too dangerous.

"The United States is committed to ending child labour globally. US embassies around the world help prepare the Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, and the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labour, while assisting other countries to address these problems," Miller said.

He said that ending the worst forms of child labour also requires global action to empower adult workers and their families.

This includes engaging with governments, workers, employers, and labour organisations, all key partners in this fight. US President Biden’s Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally enhances US policy to protect and promote worker rights at home and around the world.

The theme of the day this year is "Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labour!"

This year's World Day focused on celebrating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention.

It also presents an opportunity to remind all stakeholders to improve their implementation of the two fundamental Conventions on child labour.