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. Endorsed at the 47th ASEAN Summit, this Roadmap reinforces the region’s commitment to collective action to end child labour and sets a structured pathway for the next ten years.
Building on the achievements of previous ASEAN Roadmaps, the 2026–2035 framework provides practical guidance for governments and partners to strengthen law enforcement, expand access to education and social protection, and promote responsible business practices. It targets both persistent risks in sectors such as agriculture and emerging threats linked to migration, climate change, and the digital economy.
The Roadmap addresses root causes of child labour, including poverty, indebtedness, economic vulnerability, and barriers to education. It is organised around three focus areas—Prohibition, Prevention, and Protection—designed to foster cross-sectoral collaboration and coherent, holistic responses across ASEAN member states.
ASEAN leaders and officials emphasised the importance of regional unity, knowledge sharing, and joint planning to operationalize the Roadmap and ensure no child is left behind. Representatives highlighted the Roadmap’s future-focused approach, integrating lessons learned and proven practices to strengthen national frameworks, promote partnerships, and advance a vision of an ASEAN free from child labour.
The ILO will continue to provide technical guidance, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building support to ensure effective implementation. The launch event, attended by over 120 participants from sectoral bodies, workers’ and employers’ organisations, civil society, youth groups, development partners, and UN agencies, offered a platform to present the Roadmap, exchange knowledge, and strengthen monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
Extensive stakeholder engagement underpinned the Roadmap’s development, including surveys, interviews, consultations, and regional workshops, ensuring that the framework reflects collective insights and practical strategies to prevent child labour and protect vulnerable children across Southeast Asia.
