Child labour remains a critical global issue that adversely affects public health, with significant repercussions for physical, mental, and developmental well-being. Despite international regulations aiming to eradicate child labour, millions of children are still engaged in hazardous occupations. These children often face multifaceted health consequences, compounded by socio-economic factors and limited access to education. Current studies highlight the pervasive nature of child labour and underscore the importance of an integrated public health approach to addressing its root causes and effects. However, gaps persist in cross-disciplinary research, particularly regarding child labour in humanitarian and crisis contexts, tailored intervention strategies, gender-specific considerations, and long-term impacts on children's life trajectories and quality of life.

This Research Topic aims to deepen the understanding of the intersection between child labour and public health, emphasizing evidence-based solutions and policy-driven approaches. By drawing on diverse perspectives, from clinical research, to policy analysis, this special issue seeks to map out effective intervention frameworks. Key questions include identifying the primary health impacts of child labour across different settings, evaluating the efficacy of current policies, and understanding gender disparities within labour contexts. Furthermore, it seeks to explore innovative data collection and surveillance methods to improve child labour tracking and policy enforcement.

To gather further insights into the multifaceted relationship between child labour and child public health, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

Physical, psychological, and developmental impacts of child labour on children and their families

Poverty, humanitarian crises, education, migration, and family structure as social determinants

Evaluation of policy and legal frameworks at national and international levels

Evaluation of implementation programmes for national and/or international child labour policies

Intersectoral interventions to reduce child labour, protect child health, and mitigate harm. For example, programmes that include partners in health, protection, and/or education sectors

Community and global interventions showcasing successful programmes and practices

Gender-specific concerns related to child labour and its differential impacts

The correlation between access to education and prevalence of child labour

Psychosocial impacts, including trauma and long-term poverty effects

Advances in measurement, reporting, and solutions for sharing and pooling data

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Child Labour and Public Health: Navigating Intersections, Challenges, and Solutions