Promoting decent work in global value chains
Audrey Le Guével, Programme and Operations Officer at ILO-Brussels, participated in a panel debate on “Reshaping the future of work in global value chains”, organized by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE).
28 January 2020
“Over the last 20 years, manufacturing of a wide variety of consumer goods in the global economy has shifted from relatively well-regulated, high wage and generally unionized factories in the developed world to basically unregulated, low-wage and rarely unionized factories in the developing world,” said Ms Le Guével. In some countries, protecting workers’ health and safety is a real challenge.
She presented the main findings of a recent report of the Alliance 8.7: Ending child labour, forced labour and human trafficking in global supply chains. The report provides the first ever estimations of child labour and forced labour in supply chains.
The study confirms that considerably more child labour occurs in production linked to domestic production and consumption, particularly in regions where children in child labour are mainly involved in family-based subsistence agriculture. However, a significant portion of child labour can be linked to global supply chains, up to 26 per cent in one region (in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia).
The report further indicates that the link between child labour and global supply chains is often indirect. A significant share of child labour in global supply chains occurs in their lower tiers, in activities such as raw material extraction and agriculture, making due diligence, visibility and traceability challenging.
“While it is important to support job creation and boost productivity, it is also essential to ensure decent working conditions for all in global supply chains,” said Ms Le Guével.
The Better Work programme is designed to improve working conditions and respect of labour rights for workers, particularly in South East Asia.
To this end, the ILO focusses on all levels of the supply chain and provides advice and support to trade unions, workers and employers to ensure fair, equitable and safe conditions in the industry. A recent in-depth evaluation of Better Work’s effectiveness shows that the programme has not only changed workers’ lives, but it has also boosted factory competitiveness and helped closing the gender pay gap.
Finally, Ms Le Guével underlined that the social partners play an important role in promoting decent work in global value chains.
An effective social dialogue and tripartism can make labour law and institutions effective, including in respect of the recognition of the employment relationship, the promotion of good industrial relations and the building of effective labour inspection systems. “The social partners are crucial to the effective implementation and enforcement of national labour laws,” she concluded.
She presented the main findings of a recent report of the Alliance 8.7: Ending child labour, forced labour and human trafficking in global supply chains. The report provides the first ever estimations of child labour and forced labour in supply chains.
The study confirms that considerably more child labour occurs in production linked to domestic production and consumption, particularly in regions where children in child labour are mainly involved in family-based subsistence agriculture. However, a significant portion of child labour can be linked to global supply chains, up to 26 per cent in one region (in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia).
The report further indicates that the link between child labour and global supply chains is often indirect. A significant share of child labour in global supply chains occurs in their lower tiers, in activities such as raw material extraction and agriculture, making due diligence, visibility and traceability challenging.
“While it is important to support job creation and boost productivity, it is also essential to ensure decent working conditions for all in global supply chains,” said Ms Le Guével.
The Better Work programme is designed to improve working conditions and respect of labour rights for workers, particularly in South East Asia.
To this end, the ILO focusses on all levels of the supply chain and provides advice and support to trade unions, workers and employers to ensure fair, equitable and safe conditions in the industry. A recent in-depth evaluation of Better Work’s effectiveness shows that the programme has not only changed workers’ lives, but it has also boosted factory competitiveness and helped closing the gender pay gap.
Finally, Ms Le Guével underlined that the social partners play an important role in promoting decent work in global value chains.
An effective social dialogue and tripartism can make labour law and institutions effective, including in respect of the recognition of the employment relationship, the promotion of good industrial relations and the building of effective labour inspection systems. “The social partners are crucial to the effective implementation and enforcement of national labour laws,” she concluded.