Reimagining Child Labour and Public Health: Pathways to Protection, Equity, and Sustainable Wellbeing

Child labour remains one of the most pressing global public health challenges, with profound implications for children’s physical safety, psychological resilience, and social development. Despite concerted international efforts—from the International Labour Organization, the United Nations agencies, to international and local nongovernmental organisations—over 160 million children still work under conditions that harm their health or hinder their development. Research increasingly demonstrates that the consequences of child labour extend far beyond the workplace, impacting long-term educational attainment, psychological wellbeing, and economic stability across generations. However, the field continues to face critical knowledge gaps regarding the evolving nature of child labour, the effectiveness of intervention strategies, the role of health systems in care and prevention, and the intersection between socio-economic vulnerabilities, armed conflict, and child labour. Addressing these complex dynamics demands cross-sectoral collaboration that unites health, policy, education, and social science expertise.This Research Topic aims to advance an integrated understanding of how child labour shapes health outcomes and how evidence-informed action can drive sustainable change to protect and promote children's health. It seeks to gather empirical, theoretical, and policy-oriented research that elucidates the mechanisms linking child labour to individual and societal health. The central questions are: What are the most significant health effects of child labour across different socio-economic and geographical contexts? What interventions work to protect and promote the health of children in labour situations and their families? How can multi-level interventions—spanning households, communities, and governments—be optimized to reduce harm and promote child wellbeing? To gather further insights into the global intersections between child labour and public health, we welcome diverse contributions from researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. Submissions may explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:Physical, psychological, and developmental effects of child labourPoverty, education, migration, armed conflict, and family dynamics as social determinantsAssessment and reform of policy and legal frameworks at local, national, and global levelsEvaluation of child protection and public health interventions, including cross-sector programmesGender, intersectionality, and the differential health impacts of child labourThe relationship between access to education and child labour Community-based and international strategies showcasing effective prevention and rehabilitation modelsPsychosocial consequences, including trauma and long-term socioeconomic outcomesInnovations in data systems, monitoring, and evidence synthesis for policy action Topic editors: Ayesha Kadir, Rajeev Seth, Baltica Cabieses, Tendai Nhenga Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82922/reimagining-child-labour-and-public-health-pathways-to-protection-equity-and-sustainable-wellbeing