Child labour and human trafficking remain important concerns in global supply chains
A significant share of child labor and human trafficking occurs in raw material extraction and agriculture, and female migrant workers continue to experiece exploitation in the Gulf states.
The new report, Ending child labour, forced labour and human trafficking in global supply chains, presents the joint research findings and conclusions on child labour, forced labour and human trafficking linked to global supply chains from the ILO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), members of the Alliance 8.7 partnership. It is the first attempt to provide estimates of child labor and trafficking for forced labor in global supply chains, which was made possible through the collaboration and sharing of data among the international agencies.
The report indicates that a significant share of child labor and human trafficking in global supply chains occurs in activities such as raw material extraction and agriculture, with South-East Asia having the highest percentage of child labor. The results show that, while child labour is considerably more common in production for the domestic economy, there is also a non-negligible risk of child labour in production linked to supply chains that serve the global economy.
An experimental effort to extend the estimates to include human trafficking for forced labour, based on much more limited data, suggests that human trafficking is also present in global supply chains.
The report highlights the critical role of states in addressing gaps in statutory legislation, enforcement, and access to justice (which create space for non-compliance) and in establishing a framework for responsible business conduct. It also examines how governments can lead by example by integrating due diligence considerations into their own activities as procurers of goods and services, owners of enterprises and providers of credit and loans. For business, the report underscores the need for a comprehensive, whole-of-supply-chain approach to due diligence.
The report also outlines a broader preventive approach focused on root causes and mitigating socioeconomic vulnerability. This includes taking effective action to ensure access to affordable and quality education, strengthening social protection and welfare systems, statutory or negotiated minimum wages that include support for families to reduce economic vulnerability, and facilitating well-managed migration.
Here’s a round-up of other noteworthy updates and news:
The report Lived Experiences of Migrant Women: Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait provides an analysis of how female migrant workers in the Gulf states continue to be subject to exploitation despite recently enacted reforms to improve the recruitment industry.
According to the 2019 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, many of the world’s biggest listed companies are not yet transparent in how they identify and address human rights issues in their businesses and supply chains.
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