International Conference

Taking next steps to end child labour in global supply chains

The Dutch Government is convening this conference together with ILO and the Global March against Child Labour. Companies will meet with governments, CSOs and employers’ and workers’ organizations to share best practices, discuss challenges and lessons learned for better due diligence and policy to bring child labour in supply chains to an end.

152 million children, aged 5 to 17 years old are still victims of child labour. Governments, businesses and NGO’s have therefore committed to the elimination of child labour by 2025, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More and more is recognised that child labour is everybody’s responsibility in today’s global supply chains.

A growing amount of businesses recognize the role their supply chains play in the prevalence of child labour. They take steps to eliminate it, sometimes jointly in a multistakeholder setting, at sector level or individually. Besides companies, several NGO’s run successful programmes to end child labour as do governments.

During the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour in Argentina in 2017, voluntary pledges were made to carry out actions for the eradication of child labour and forced labour, and the generation of quality employment for young people. In addition, since the roll out of the Pathfinder Country Strategy of Alliance 8.7 in 2018, nineteen countries have committed to go further and faster to achieve SDG Target 8.7.

However, accelerated efforts are needed if we are to meet Target 8.7 urgent deadlines. Governments, companies, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and civil society have to join efforts to address challenges and leverage opportunities to end child labour in supply chains.”

The aim of the Conference is to:
  • Inspire others with practical examples;
  • Assess progress since IV Global Conference on child labour in Buenos Aires 2017;
  • Showcase new commitments of Pathfinder Countries of Alliance 8.7;
  • Share challenges and opportunities to end child labour in supply chains
  • Find practical answers and innovative solutions to upscale efforts;
  • Start partnerships or projects to work together to upscale efforts.

More information

More information is available on the Taking Next Steps Conference website, check the Agenda.