Project Brief: Child Protection for Preventing Child Labour (CPPCL) in Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR (2025)

Child labour remains a significant concern in Lao PDR, deeply rooted in poverty, limited access to education, and rural livelihood pressures. According to the latest national data, about 23 % of children aged 5–17 is engaged in child labour, with younger children (5–11) disproportionately involved in economic activities compared to older age groups. Many of these children are exposed to hazardous conditions working long hours in agriculture, family businesses, or informal sectors that compromise their health, safety, and schooling opportunities. Rural and ethnic minority communities in particular show higher rates of child labour, where children often forego schooling to support household income or care for siblings. Despite legal frameworks that set minimum age limits and ban dangerous work for minors, enforcement is uneven, and families facing economic hardship may still rely on children’s labour.

The project is highly relevant to local needs and constraints, with the overall objective of contributing to the elimination of child labour in disadvantaged communities, including ethnic minority communities, in Luang Prabang Province. Specifically, it aims to protect children and adolescents from child labour and empower them through access to quality education, skills development, and pathways to decent work.