Business sector unites to eradicate child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean

At a pivotal moment for accelerating the eradication of child labour in the region, representatives from the business sector participated in the webinar "Eradication of Child Labour in Latin America and the Caribbean: Opportunities for Business Action and Collaboration with the ILO," organized by the Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour (RILAC) and the ILO Child Labour Platform (CLP).

Drawing on the latest ILO-UNICEF 2024 Global Estimates of Child Labour, which highlight that over 7 million children and adolescents remain in child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean region, the event convened leading companies, business organizations, and international stakeholders to share concrete corporate responses and explore impactful new partnerships.

During the webinar, companies such as Samsung, Olam Food Ingredients (Ofi), Inter IKEA Group, and the National Association of Entrepreneurs of Colombia (ANDI) showcased their significant experiences in implementing due diligence policies, territorial intervention models, and strategies to address the root causes of child labour within their supply chains.

The message was clear: Businesses not only have the power to make a difference but are essential players in achieving this goal. In the face of this urgent challenge, business action is not merely an ethical commitment; it is a strategic decision to build a more quitable and sustainable future.

This webinar is not just an event; it is an invitation for more companies to join technical cooperation mechanisms to combat child labour, such as the RILAC and the CLP,"
emphasized Ana Virginia Moreira, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The ILO, through the RILAC, reiterated its call for a coordinated, sustained, and forward-looking response capable of eradicating child labour at all stages of the supply chain, moving decisively towards a child labour-free Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Read the original article on the RILAC website.