A larger part of child labor occurs in contexts where poverty, inequality, and weak legal systems intersect. Global supply chains seeking cheap labor and economic dependency between developed and developing nations perpetuates this kind of labor exploitation (ILO, 2024). The commodification of child labor is normalized by neoliberal economic structures because they deem it an economic necessity rather than a human rights issue. Moreover, gender, race, and class intersect to make certain children more vulnerable than others, such as those in marginalized ethnic groups or in rural, low income communities.

The link between child labor and trafficking is therefore deeply intertwined. Families facing economic hardship may allow children to work or send them off with hopes of better opportunities, only for them to be exploited in forced labor or sexual trafficking. The absence of strong child protection laws and enforcement allows this transition from labor exploitation to trafficking to occur unchecked.

International conventions should be integrated with national laws such as the ILO Conventions No. 138 (establishes a minimum age for employment, requiring countries to set and enforce a minimum age for entering the workforce) and No. 182 (calls for the immediate prohibition and elimination of the "worst forms" of child labor, which include slavery, trafficking, forced labor, and dangerous or exploitative work), clearly defining and prohibiting all forms of child labor while protecting permissible youth employment. Policies must address the structural roots of child labor—poverty, inequality, and lack of access to quality education. Efforts to restabilize the economy and social protection programs can reduce families’ dependence on child income. Governments should strengthen labor inspection systems, cross-border cooperation, and data sharing to detect trafficking routes. Victim support services, including rehabilitation and reintegration programs, must be adequately funded.