Child labour in Supply chains

Child labour in Supply Chains is a persistent issue

Child labour in supply chains remains a serious global challenge according to UNICEF, 168 million children worldwide are child labourers, with 85 million working in hazardous conditions. Unfortunalety, exact figures for how often child labour products are sold in the Netherlands are lacking.

Dutch law demands action on child labour

Since 2019, the Dutch Child Labour Due Diligence Act requires companies to detect, prevent and address child labour in their production chains. Many companies respond by commissioning independent audits to better understand their supply chains.

Turn away isn’t the solution

Often, when child labour is discovered, companies choose to stop buying from the supplier. While this may seem responsible, it can harm vulnerable families who depend on that income for basic needs like food. Closing factories due child labour can hurt children even more.

Dialogue and gradual improvement are key

Instead of turing awar, companies should engage in dialogue with suppliers. A better approach is to work towards reducing children’s working hours gradually while increasing their school attendance.

This only works if parents have access to decent jobs with a living wage. When parents earn enough, children can safely go to school.

Child labour requires a systematic, collaborative approach

Child labour is a complex proble. Tackling it needs cooperation between employers, parents, schools and local authorities. Want to know how ImpactBuying helps companies tackle child labour risks? Visist our living wage page and discover more!