International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights the eradication of child labour in supply chains on the occasion of 12 June World Day against Child Labour. It is underlined that eliminating child labour in supply chains is everyone’s business, and requires the commitment of governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations and enterprises themselves.
All supply chains – including in agriculture and fishing, manufacturing and mining, services and construction, and whether global or national – may involve some of the 168 million children still in child labour.
Child labour denies girls and boys their rights – to be safe from harm, to quality education and vocational training, and to play and rest. Freedom from child labour is a fundamental human right and, alongside the other fundamental principles and rights at work, it is indispensable for the achievement of decent work for all.
The ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (the MNE Declaration) makes clear that all enterprises have the responsibility to obey national law and to contribute to the realization of all fundamental principles and rights at work – including the elimination of child labour as defined in ILO Conventions No. 138 on Minimum Age and No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.
Effective governance and social dialogue are keystones of the fight against child labour. Primary responsibility for eliminating child labour rests with governments, but effective action requires collaboration between government agencies, national social partners, and management and workers’ representatives in enterprises. The ILO assists their efforts to eradicate child labour by supporting mechanisms for increased compliance with national legislation and respect for internationally recognised human and labour rights and by supporting the development of labour relations systems.
Social dialogue has been and continues to be crucial to sustainable progress. Employers’ organizations are increasingly engaged in efforts to end child labour in supply chains by providing advice and guidance to their members on how to address child labour. Trade unions are playing a central role in fighting child labour by training to prevent child labour, by promoting safe and healthy working conditions and by mainstreaming child labour concerns in collective bargaining agreements – including in global agreements – with enterprises. Every enterprise linked to a supply chain can contribute positively – and dialogue between management and trade union representatives is crucial to building confidence and to finding sustainable solutions.
We invite everyone to be part of World Day which is an opportunity to raise your voice against child labour and to join in the call to end child labour in supply chains.
Every action counts. Together we can make a difference.
