How Mexico is Bringing Child Labor Out of the Shadows

We cannot effectively fight child labor without data. If we don’t know the scope, the location and the nature of the problem, we aren’t going to be able to deliver effective policy solutions. That’s why we welcome the newly released 2022 Mexican National Child Labor Survey, which measures the prevalence of child labor nationwide and pinpoints the geographic, sectoral and socioeconomic problem areas.

The survey is an important achievement, and it involved collaboration across the Mexican government, as well as with international organizations and participants. The Mexican government demonstrated a steadfast commitment and willingness to unearth the truth. We commend their efforts. I am proud that the Bureau of International Labor Affairs supported this survey and its proposed follow-up actions through our ACCIONNAR project, implemented by the International Labor Organization.

I was delighted to join Mexico’s Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare Marath Baruch Bolaños López, who led a dynamic and well-attended launch event in Merida last week, underscoring the government’s strong commitment to reducing child labor. Our colleagues at Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), as well as state leaders from 27 of Mexico’s 32 states, and officials tasked with the protection of children from around the country, also participated.

Secretary Bolaños discussed the federal government’s commitment to address the root causes of child labor, including through strengthening education and social protection, as well as through raising the minimum wage and implementing national labor law reform. The state leaders each pledged to use the survey results to target enforcement efforts and raise awareness in key sectors and communities.

The survey provides a snapshot of the current child labor situation throughout Mexico. It shows that child labor has increased slightly since 2019, a result that mirrors global trends and pandemic-era challenges. All told, 3.7 million, or 13% of the country’s 28.4 million children ages 5-17, engage in child labor. The results allow us to identify specific regions, sectors and areas of concern.

We applaud the Mexican government’s commitment to collecting data and taking concrete, meaningful actions to combat child labor. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Mexican government at the federal and state levels and other stakeholders to support data and worker-informed efforts that have a direct impact on children and families.

Tackling child labor is a challenge in every country, including our own. Working together to end labor exploitation in all forms is essential. We need to collect the right information; share it widely; provide adequate resources; and empower governments, workers, and the private sector to design and implement targeted actions if we are going to meet this challenge.

Thea Mei Lee is the deputy undersecretary for international affairs. Follow the Bureau of International Labor Affairs on X/Twitter at @ILAB_DOL and on LinkedIn.