The commitment was delivered at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 17 marking the 25th anniversary of Vietnam’s ratification of ILO Convention No.182 on the worst forms of child labour.

Since ratifying the Convention in 2000, Vietnam has made significant progress in preventing and reducing child labour through legal reforms, national programmes and strengthened inter-agency coordination. According to national surveys conducted by the National Statistics Office with ILO support, the proportion of children got involved in economic activities declined sharply from 9.1% in 2018 to 3.5% in 2023.

Despite these gains, challenges remain. An estimated 94,300 children are still engaged in hazardous work, and nearly 12 out of every 100 children in child labour face health-related risks, highlighting the need for sustained and targeted interventions.

At the ceremony, Sinwon Park, Director of ILO Country Office for Vietnam, said the achievements of the past 25 years were the result of persistent efforts by the Government, employers’ and workers’ organisations, and development partners. She noted that ILO-supported initiatives, including the Project on Technical Support for Enhancing the National Capacity to Prevent and Reduce Child Labour in Vietnam (Enhance Project), have strengthened national systems for prevention, identification, referral and remediation of child labour cases.

Ending child labour is not only about protecting children’s rights, but also about investing in Vietnam’s future workforce and inclusive economic growth, Park said, stressing that keeping children in school and ensuring decent work for adults generates long-term benefits for families, businesses and the wider economy.

UNICEF also underscored the importance of a comprehensive and preventive approach. Ly Phat Viet Linh, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Vietnam, said child labour can be prevented if policies focus on education, social protection and livelihood support for vulnerable families.

Every child has the right to a safe childhood and opportunities to learn and develop, Linh said, adding that education must remain at the core of efforts to break the cycle of poverty and child labour.

Taking the floor, Nguyen Thi Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of Mother and Child Affairs under the Ministry of Health, said child protection is a shared responsibility involving families, communities, state agencies, workers, employers and businesses, stressing that no single actor can eliminate child labour alone.

As the country deepens its integration into global supply chains and advances digital transformation, she said, new risks, including online exploitation of children, are emerging alongside traditional vulnerabilities such as poverty, migration and informal employment. This requires child protection systems capable of responding effectively in both online and offline environments, grounded in prevention, education and strong law enforcement.

To achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth, Vietnam must continue to place the protection of children’s fundamental rights at the centre of integrated policy approaches, including education and social protection, Nga stated.

At the ceremony, representatives of the ILO, UNICEF and other United Nations agencies in Vietnam reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the country in implementing national programmes and strengthening labour law enforcement and social protection systems. As Vietnam prepares its national programme on the prevention and reduction of child labour for 2026–2030, the 25-year milestone was seen as an opportunity to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 8.7 on ending child labour in all its forms.

Vietnam works to end child labour

As the World Day Against Child Labour is observed on June 12, Vietnam has affirmed its strong commitment to eliminating child labour in all forms, particularly the hazardous and exploitative labour that robs their right to a fulfilling childhood.