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The new 10-year framework (2026–2035), which is built upon the two previous ASEAN roadmaps, will set a clear pathway towards preventing child labour and provide practical guidance for governments and partners to strengthen law enforcement.
With the mission to accelerate collective action towards ending child labour, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), has launched the ASEAN Roadmap for the Prevention of Child Labour Including the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2035.
Announced on 18 November at a launch event, the new 10-year framework (2026–2035) will build upon the gains of the two previous ASEAN roadmaps — the ASEAN Roadmap on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2025 and 2016 — and charts a clearer, more ambitious path for preventing child labour and eradicating its worst forms.
The roadmap also offers practical guidance for governments and partners, strengthening law enforcement, expanding access to education and social protection, and promoting responsible and accountable business practices.
Beyond this, it tackles persistent risks in agriculture and other vulnerable sectors, while addressing the deeper drivers of child labour such as poverty, debt, economic instability, and barriers to education, along with emerging risks linked to migration, climate change, and the digital economy.
The proposed key results areas for version of the roadmap are as follows:
- Promoting good governance for prohibition of child labour practices and for elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including:
- Law enforcement especially in hard-to-reach sectors,
- Institutional capacity for law enforcement and good governance on child labour at all levels, including local governments,
- Strengthening coordination and cross-sectoral and regional collaboration,
- Prohibit the use of child labour in global, regional, and domestic supply chains, and
- Prohibit the use of child labour in the digital economy and ensure clear prohibitions of WFCL in online space.
- Prevention of child labour practices, including:
- Strengthening data collection and information dissemination,
- Access to education especially in rural and remote areas and including formal and non-formal education as well as TVET,
- Child friendly rural and urban development,
- Rural development, climate change, and poverty reduction,
- Decent work for young workers and corporate social responsibility on child labour prevention, and
- Public awareness raising, especially on emerging forms of child labour such as online exploitation.
- Protection of children, including:
- Social protection and social assistance, and
- Improvement of child- and gender-sensitive response systems to identify, withdraw and support children from child labour.
The roadmap, which has been organised under three focus areas — prohibition, prevention, and protection, aims to serve as a tool to strengthen cross-sectoral regional collaboration and foster coherent and holistic responses.
Comments from ASEAN representatives and ILO
Some ASEAN representatives shared their enthusiasm on the launch of the roadmap. This is what some of them had to say:
Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharag, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Thailand commented: "The unity of the eleven ASEAN member states will make our efforts more concrete and impactful. ASEAN will serve as a strong force to operationalise the roadmap, strengthen our collective capacity through knowledge sharing and joint planning, and ensure that no one is left behind. With this spirit, success is within reach."
Amuerfina R. Reyes, Assistant Secretary, CESO II, Workers’ Welfare and Protection Cluster, Department of Labour and Employment of the Philippines said: "The ASEAN Roadmap for the Prevention of Child Labour Including the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2035 was designed to be future focused that integrates lessons learned and proven practices for greater impact.
"May this be a guiding document to align our national frameworks, share good practices and strengthen partnerships aimed at realising our shared vision of an ASEAN free of child labour and a community built on care and respect for human dignity.”
Tuomo Poutiainen, Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, ILO, also shared: "The ILO has supported ASEAN in developing this Roadmap and will continue to provide technical guidance, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building support to ensure its effective implementation."
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Lead image / ILO
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