National Conference on Child Labour in Iraq: Towards a National Strategy to Protect Children and Promote Decent Work

As part of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) ongoing efforts to address the root causes of child labour and promote decent work, social protection, and inclusive education, the ILO today organized the National Conference on Child Labour in Iraq: Towards a National Strategy to Combat Child Labour, held in Baghdad under the auspices of the Building an Equal and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT) Project, funded by the European Union, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The conference aligns with Iraq’s commitments under ILO Conventions No. 138 and No. 182.

The conference opened with welcoming remarks from key national and international representatives.

 

The European Union Ambassador to Iraq, Klemens Semtner, emphasized the importance of unified national action, stating:

“Today, we meet with a shared purpose: to ensure that every child in Iraq has the chance to learn, to play, and to dream, free from exploitation. To advance this goal, the European Union is funding the project Building an Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT).

From his side, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ahmed Alasadihighlighted the need for collective action, noting: “Combating child labour is a battle of awareness and a shared responsibility to support education and protect Iraq’s future. Education is the strongest weapon to fight poverty, and from this belief comes our slogan: We will not pass poverty on to our children.”

Ms. Zakia Saleh Abdul Khaliq, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, noted that “although the rate of child labour in the Kurdistan Region is lower than in other parts of the country, the phenomenon remains alarming, particularly amid the increasing number of displaced persons and refugees and the economic pressures faced by families.”

Meanwhile, the ILO Country Representative in Iraq, Igor Bosc, reaffirmed the Organization’s continued support, stating:

“The ILO stands with Iraq in its national efforts to address child labour. We will support the implementation of the National Roadmap through capacity-building and sustained institutional engagement.”

The conference brought together over 100 representatives from the Ministries of Labour, Planning, Education, Interior, Justice, Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works, as well as from employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society, academia, and UN agencies. It served as a high-level national platform to discuss the structural, social, and economic challenges contributing to child labour in Iraq, review related national policies and legislation, and exchange experiences and good practices.

Discussions focused on four main areas: strengthening inclusive social dialogue among stakeholders; reviewing national policies and programmes related to child labour; assessing the legal and institutional frameworks; and initiating the drafting of a National Roadmap that defines strategic actions, responsibilities, timelines, and mechanisms for monitoring and accountability. Participants examined the socio-economic factors driving child labour and discussed ways to support families and reduce their reliance on children’s income, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, construction, crafts, and street work.

Parallel workshops were held focusing on the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms; the socio-economic impacts of child labour and possible mitigation measures; and national coordination mechanisms to enhance joint action. These sessions produced a set of practical recommendations that will serve as the foundation for developing Iraq’s National Roadmap to Eliminate Child Labour.

The conference also featured the presentation of academic studies on the state of child labour in Iraq and international best practices, along with interactive discussions among government, social partners, and civil society to determine priorities and next steps.

The event concluded with the presentation of key recommendations and closing remarks, reaffirming the commitment of all stakeholders to follow up on the conference outcomes and to strengthen cooperation between national institutions and the ILO to ensure sustainable progress towards eliminating child labour in Iraq.

This conference is part of the ILO’s broader efforts to support Iraq in addressing child labour challenges and promoting children’s and families’ rights, under the auspices of the EU-funded BEIT Project, which aims to tackle the root causes of child labour by promoting decent work, social protection, and inclusive education.