Mexico's Puebla and Oaxaca States Intensify Fight Against Child Labor

The government of Puebla affirmed its commitment to eliminate child labor by joining the International Labour Organization's national "Red Card" campaign. Officials highlighted that more than 285,000 children and adolescents in the state are affected, making Puebla the sixth‑largest region in Mexico for child labor. The campaign will use multilingual outreach and media partnerships to raise awareness and reinforce school attendance and family welfare programs.

Separately, a recent INEGI survey shows that 186,881 minors in Oaxaca are engaged in child labor, representing 18.5% of the state's youth. Most work in agriculture (42%), with many also employed in commerce, services, and small workshops. Economic hardship, crop losses, and family crises are identified as the main drivers behind the children leaving school for work.