Panel discussion

Presentation of the ILO-Global Compact Child Labour Platform

A special event during this week’s UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York will offer companies and other stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about the Child Labour Platform (CLP). The CLP - a joint initiative by the ILO, the International Trade Union Confederation, the International Organization of Employers and the UNGC - identifies obstacles to the implementation of ILO Conventions in supply chains and the surrounding communities, as well as solutions to these obstacles and ways to catalyse collective action. Benjamin Smith, the ILO-IPEC’s Senior Officer for Corporative Social Responsibility, explains why CLP’s tools are a winning solution for businesses, working families and communities to address child labour.

A special event during this week’s UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York will offer companies and other stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about the Child Labour Platform (CLP).

According to ILO estimates, 215 million children worldwide remain trapped in child labour. This major human rights challenge requires renewed focus and action by all actors, including business.

Child Labour Platform (CLP), a win-win option for businesses and communities
Benjamin Smith, Senior Officer for Corporate Social Responsibility in ILO-IPEC, explains why CLP’s tools are a win-win option for businesses and communities to address child labour.
The CLP is a cross-sectoral forum for businesses held jointly by the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) and the UN Global Compact which aims to share learning about tackling child labour in supply chains.  It helps identify obstacles to the implementation of ILO Conventions in supply chains and the surrounding communities, as well as solutions to these obstacles and ways to catalyse collective action.

With expert ILO support, the CLP will identify obstacles business faces in implementing Global Compact Principle 5, based on the principles of the ILO child labour Conventions, catalyzing practical – and, where appropriate, joint - solutions.

During the Event held in New-York, the Coca-Cola Company, Mars Inc., and Telefonica will present their strategies, as multi-national enterprises, to combat child labour in global supply chains. The panel will discuss the principal results and challenges of these approaches to date and how the Child Labour Platform enhances their capacity to contribute to eliminating child labour.

Event programme

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION:
Mr. Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs
Assistant Director-General of the International Labour Organization

PANELLISTS' REMARKS:
Mr. Brent Wilton
Secretary-General of the International Organization of Employers
Co-chair of the Child Labour Platform

Mr. Philip Jennings
General Secretary of UNI Global Union
Co-Chair of the Child Labour Platform

  Mr. Kent McVay
Director of International Labour Relations, The Coca-Cola Company

  Mr. Jeff Morgan
Director of Global Programs, Mars Inc.

Ms. Claudia Aparicio

Director of Social Management, Telefonica

A representative from UNICEF

PANEL DISCUSSION, RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS
FROM THE FLOOR, MODERATED BY THE CO-CHAIRS
OF THE CHILD LABOUR PLATFORM

OPEN DISCUSSION

CONCLUDING REMARKS
Mr. Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs
Assistant Director-General of the International Labour Organization