Child Rights in Vietnam

Out of Vietnam’s 18.3 million children, around 2.83 million are involved in some form of economic activity – 42.6% of them are girls. Most of these children (nearly 86%) live in rural areas, and two-thirds are aged 15-17. Urban migration has left many children behind, with parents moving to cities for work. For those who live with their children, access to affordable, quality childcare remains a major challenge.

Young workers under 18 also face limited opportunities. Many are excluded from formal employment and forced to seek work in informal, often unsafe, environments. While Vietnam has made strong progress in reducing child labour, around 1 million children are still engaged in child labour across sectors.

Businesses have a key role to play. By investing in families and decent youth employment, and by conducting human rights risk assessments and human rights due diligence, they can help eliminate child labour, support children’s rights and build a stable, responsible workforce in one of the world’s top sourcing countries.