Lalitpur, May 4 :

The number of child labourers employed worldwide fell from 246 million to 218 million between 2000 and 2004, the International Labour Organisation says in a report, adding: “The worst forms of child labour can be eliminated in 10 years.”

Addressing a press meet on the eve of the launch of the ILO-prepared report titled ‘The End of Child labour: Within Reach’, Pracha Vasuprasat, office in-charge of the ILO, said, “Despite all problems in Nepal, the report shows Nepal has made improvement in reducing the worst forms of the child labour among the Asian countries.”

The ILO will release a report containing new estimates of the number of child labourers worldwide and regionally and analysis of progress made so far in the struggle against child labour in Nepal tomorrow.

The number of labourers aged 5-17 years in hazardous works decreased to 126 million in 2004 as opposed to 171 million in the previous estimate. Among the child labourers aged 5-14, the decline stood at 33 per cent, says the report. If the current pace of the decline can be maintained and the global campaign to stop child labour continued, the worst forms of child labour can be feasibly eliminated in 10 years.