Regulation

The law and standards that bear on child labour: what each requires, whom it binds and where it stands. Each provision is quoted from the official text, and each status gives the date of the source it comes from.

International conventions and standards

International Labour Organization

ILO Convention 138in force

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)

Ratifying states must pursue a national policy to abolish child labour and set a minimum age for work no lower than the end of compulsory schooling, and never below 15.

Each Member for which this Convention is in force undertakes to pursue a national policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child labour …

Article 1

Source: United Nations Treaty Series · ILO, 5 June 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
States that ratify it
Adopted
26 June 1973
Status as of
5 June 2025

United Nations

UN CRC, Article 32in force

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Recognises a child’s right to protection from economic exploitation and from hazardous work, and requires states to set minimum ages for employment.

States Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education …

Article 32(1)

Source: UNICEF · UN Treaty Collection, 15 October 2026 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
196 states parties
Adopted
20 November 1989
Applies from
2 September 1990
Status as of
15 October 2026

International Labour Organization

ILO Convention 182in force

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)

Requires immediate measures to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labour, as its Article 3 defines them, for everyone under 18. It was the first ILO convention ratified by every member state.

Source: ILO, January 2026 · ILO child labour convention achieves universal ratification, 4 August 2020 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
All 187 ILO member states, which have all ratified it
Adopted
17 June 1999
Status as of
January 2026

United Nations

CRC Optional Protocol on the sale of childrenin force

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

Makes offering, delivering or accepting a child for forced labour a criminal offence within the sale of children.

The offering, delivering or accepting, by whatever means, a child for the purpose of: … Engagement of the child in forced labour

Article 3(1)(a)(i)(c)

Source: United Nations, 25 May 2000 · UN Treaty Collection, 15 October 2026 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
178 states parties
Adopted
25 May 2000
Applies from
18 January 2002
Status as of
15 October 2026

United Nations

SDG 8.7in force

Sustainable Development Goal target 8.7

Set 2025 as the year to end child labour in all its forms. The UN’s 2026 progress note reports nearly 138 million children in child labour in 2024.

… secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms

Target 8.7

Source: United Nations · read 15 October 2026

Binds
UN member states, as a political commitment
Adopted
2015
Status as of
2026

International Labour Organization

ILO MNE Declarationin force

Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy

Asks multinational and national enterprises to respect the minimum working age and to act immediately against the worst forms of child labour in their operations. The current text is the sixth edition, of 2022.

Multinational enterprises, as well as national enterprises, should respect the minimum age for admission to employment or work in order to secure the effective abolition of child labour in their operations …

Paragraph 27

Source: ILO, 2022 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Governments and enterprises, voluntarily
Adopted
November 1977
Status as of
2022

OECD and FAO

OECD-FAO agricultural guidancein force

OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains

Its model enterprise policy commits to the effective abolition of child labour and to respecting the minimum age for work.

Respect the minimum age for admission to employment or work in order to secure the effective abolition of child labour.

Annex A, labour rights

Source: FAO, 2016 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Enterprises, as a recommendation
Adopted
2016
Status as of
2016

Regional law

African Union

African Children’s Charter, Article 15in force

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

Protects children from economic exploitation and hazardous work in both the formal and the informal sector.

Every child shall be protected from all forms of economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development.

Article 15(1)

Source: ACERWC · Ratifications · read 15 October 2026

Binds
African Union member states that ratify it
Adopted
11 July 1990
Applies from
29 November 1999
Status as of
4 April 2026

European Union

EU due-diligence directive (CSDDD)adopted, not yet applying

Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on corporate sustainability due diligence, as amended by Directive (EU) 2026/470

Requires companies to identify and address child labour, among other harms, in their own operations and chains of activities. Omnibus I (Directive 2026/470) set its scope at 5,000 employees and €1.5 billion turnover and moved application to 26 July 2029; it left the child-labour points of the Annex unchanged.

The prohibition of the worst forms of child labour (persons below the age of 18 years), interpreted in line with Article 3 of the International Labour Organization Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No 182).

Annex, Part I, point 10

Source: Publications Office of the EU, 5 July 2024 · Directive (EU) 2026/470, 26 February 2026 · Noerr, 11 March 2026 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
EU companies with more than 5,000 employees and €1.5 billion worldwide turnover, and non-EU companies with €1.5 billion EU turnover
Adopted
13 June 2024
Applies from
26 July 2029
Status as of
26 February 2026

European Union

EU Conflict Minerals Regulationin force

Regulation (EU) 2017/821 on supply-chain due diligence for importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold

Names child labour among the abuses common in conflict-affected areas, in its recitals, and adopts the OECD minerals guidance. The Commission opened a review in June 2026.

Source: Publications Office of the EU · European Commission · read 15 October 2026

Binds
EU importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold
Adopted
17 May 2017
Applies from
1 January 2021
Status as of
16 June 2026

European Union

EU Batteries Regulation, due diligencedelayed

Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries, due-diligence obligations, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/1561

Lists child labour among the social risks battery makers must address in their supply chains. Regulation 2025/1561 postponed the obligation from August 2025 to 18 August 2027.

human rights, labour rights and industrial relations, including: … (ii) child labour

Annex X, point 2(b)

Source: Publications Office of the EU · Regulation (EU) 2025/1561, 30 July 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Operators placing batteries on the EU market
Adopted
12 July 2023
Applies from
18 August 2027
Status as of
30 July 2025

European Union

EU Forced Labour Regulationadopted, not yet applying

Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market

Bans products made with forced labour, defined to include forced child labour, from the EU market and from export. Enforcement begins on 14 December 2027.

‘forced labour’ means forced or compulsory labour as defined in Article 2 of ILO Convention No 29, including forced child labour

Article 2(a)

Source: Publications Office of the EU, 12 December 2024 · European Commission · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Every operator placing, selling or exporting products on the EU market
Adopted
27 November 2024
Applies from
14 December 2027
Status as of
15 October 2026

National law

Switzerland

Switzerland: due-diligence ordinance (DDTrO)in force

Ordinance on due diligence and transparency regarding minerals and metals from conflict-affected areas and child labour (SR 221.433)

Requires companies to check whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect child labour in their products or services, and if so to keep a supply-chain policy and traceability. In April 2026 the Federal Council put a broader corporate-responsibility law out for consultation.

Unternehmen prüfen, ob ein begründeter Verdacht auf Kinderarbeit besteht … [Companies shall check whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect child labour …]

Article 5(1)

Source: Fedlex · SRF, 2 April 2026 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Swiss companies, with exemptions for small and low-risk ones
Adopted
3 December 2021
Applies from
1 January 2022
Status as of
2 April 2026

Australia

Australia: Modern Slavery Actin force

Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth)

Requires large entities to report on modern-slavery risks in their operations and supply chains, with modern slavery defined to include the worst forms of child labour. The government responded to an independent review in December 2024.

modern slavery means conduct which would constitute: … the worst forms of child labour, as defined in Article 3 of the ILO Convention (No. 182) …

Section 4

Source: Federal Register of Legislation · Australian Institute of Company Directors, 16 January 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Reporting entities above the Act’s revenue threshold
Adopted
2018
Status as of
16 January 2025

Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Labour Actin force

Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 and SRO 65, List of Worst Forms of Work for Children

Minimum working age 14, which the US Department of Labor records as below the international standard, and 18 for the hazardous work on the government’s list.

Source: US Department of Labor, 30 September 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Employers
Adopted
2006
Status as of
30 September 2025

Canada

Canada: Supply Chains Act (S-211)in force

Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act

Requires an annual report by 31 May on the steps taken to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in the entity’s supply chains.

Every entity must, on or before May 31 of each year, report to the Minister on the steps the entity has taken … to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used …

Section 11(1)

Source: Justice Laws Website, 21 September 2026 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Government institutions and entities that produce, sell or import goods
Adopted
2023
Applies from
1 January 2024
Status as of
21 September 2026

DR Congo

DR Congo: minimum agein force

Labour Code, Child Protection Code and the decree on conditions of children’s work

Sets 18 as the minimum age for work and for hazardous work, according to the US Department of Labor’s reading of the codes.

Source: US Department of Labor, 30 September 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Employers
Status as of
30 September 2025

Germany

Germany: Supply Chain Act (LkSG)in force

Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz

Requires companies to address the risk of child employment below the school-leaving age (never below 15) and of the worst forms of child labour in their supply chains. An amending bill, which would remove the reporting duty, was referred to committee on 16 January 2026 and had not been promulgated when read.

das Verbot der schlimmsten Formen der Kinderarbeit für Kinder unter 18 Jahren [the prohibition of the worst forms of child labour for children under 18]

§ 2(2) no. 2

Source: Federal Ministry of Justice · Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs · Deutscher Bundestag, 16 January 2026 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Companies above the Act’s size thresholds
Adopted
16 July 2021
Applies from
1 January 2023
Status as of
16 January 2026

Ghana

Ghana: Children’s Actin force

Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560)

Minimum working age 15 and 18 for hazardous work. Ghana’s framework of hazardous child-labour activities is under government review, according to the US Department of Labor.

Source: US Department of Labor, 30 September 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Employers
Adopted
1998
Status as of
30 September 2025

India

India: child and adolescent labour lawin force

Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, as amended in 2016

Minimum working age 14. Adolescents up to 18 are barred from the hazardous occupations listed in its schedule.

Source: US Department of Labor, 30 September 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Employers
Adopted
1986
Status as of
30 September 2025

Netherlands

Netherlands: Child Labour Due Diligence Actnever in force

Wet zorgplicht kinderarbeid

Would require companies to declare that they exercise due diligence to prevent child labour in what they sell. It enters into force only on a date set by royal decree, and none has been set. A June 2026 parliamentary paper reviews it alongside the EU directive and regulation.

Deze wet treedt in werking op een bij koninklijk besluit te bepalen tijdstip [This act enters into force at a time to be set by royal decree]

Article 12(1)

Source: Staatsblad, 2019 · Eerste Kamer · Tweede Kamer, 8 June 2026 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Would bind companies selling goods or services to Dutch end-users
Adopted
24 October 2019
Status as of
15 October 2026

Norway

Norway: Transparency Actin force

Åpenhetsloven

Requires due diligence on fundamental human rights, defined to include the ILO core conventions, among them the two on child labour. The government completed an evaluation in June 2025.

Source: Lovdata · Halvorsen & Co, 25 September 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Larger enterprises in Norway
Adopted
18 June 2021
Applies from
1 July 2022
Status as of
25 September 2025

United States

United States: import ban on forced labour goodsin force

Tariff Act of 1930, section 307 (19 U.S.C. 1307)

Bars goods made with forced or indentured labour from entry. Since 2000 the ban expressly includes forced or indentured child labour. US Customs enforces it through withhold release orders.

For purposes of this section, the term ‘forced labor or/and indentured labor’ includes forced or indentured child labor.

19 U.S.C. 1307

Source: US Government Publishing Office · US Customs and Border Protection, 29 September 2026 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Importers into the United States
Adopted
17 June 1930
Applies from
18 May 2000
Status as of
29 September 2026

United States

United States: federal child labour lawin force

Fair Labor Standards Act, child labor provisions (29 U.S.C. 212)

Prohibits oppressive child labour and the shipment of goods produced with it. Several states loosened their own rules from 2025: since 1 January 2025 Indiana allows 16 and 17-year-olds to work the same hours as adults.

No employer shall employ any oppressive child labor in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce …

29 U.S.C. 212(c)

Source: US Government Publishing Office · Ogletree Deakins, via Mondaq, 26 August 2025 · read 15 October 2026

Binds
Employers and shippers in interstate commerce
Adopted
1938
Status as of
26 August 2025