This article critically examines the way in which international labour law has been dealing with working children. This legal analysis departs from the claims made by working children's organizations (NATs) and explores some of the underlying assumptions of the relationship between social reality, law and social sciences. It examines the concept of children's participation rights and its significance for the child labour debate. After presenting an overview of the principles of general international labour law, it discusses the way how international labour law deals with child labour and working children. Following this analysis, the article questions current international child labour legislation and proposes possible avenues of rethinking child labour under international labour law.