The Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Mukhtar Al-Yafai, affirmed that protecting children from early labor is a shared national, moral, and legal responsibility, mandated by human rights principles and international conventions related to children's rights. He stressed that education is the natural path for every child and that schools provide the safe environment necessary to ensure children's right to learning, healthy development, and the building of their future.

In a statement marking the World Day Against Child Labour, Minister Al-Yafai said that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor continues its efforts to enforce laws regulating the legal working age and to support initiatives aimed at reducing child labor. These efforts include strengthening social protection programs, supporting initiatives to return out-of-school children to education, empowering families economically, and raising awareness of the dangers of child labor, in cooperation with government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners.

He noted that these efforts are in line with national priorities and international commitments and are consistent with the provisions of the joint Arab statement calling for intensified efforts to eliminate child labor and safeguard children's rights.

Minister Al-Yafai explained that the issue of child labor in Yemen cannot be separated from the complex consequences of the war and the practices pursued by the Houthi terrorist militia, which have contributed to increasing poverty rates, displacement, and the deterioration of living conditions. As a result, thousands of children have been pushed into the labor market instead of attending school.

The Minister renewed his call for strengthening national and international efforts to protect children and guarantee their right to education, care, and a dignified life, thereby contributing to building a safer and more stable future for coming generations.