JOURNAL
Children’s Rights International
Justice is Hope
An Initiative of World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights Inc.

Child Labour Project

Courtesy: The Ethical Trading Initiative
For more information contact info@eti.org.uk

Introduction to Project

Child labour is often difficult to detect and is a complex issue to address in a responsible manner. Although incidences are rarely reported in workplace monitoring, corporate members felt that child labour might be present but out of sight. These concerns were underlined by NGO and trade union members, who confirmed that the risk of child labour in supply chains is real. Evidence suggested a co-ordinated effort was most likely to yield results and, with this in mind, the project was set up with the ultimate aim of eliminating child labour from the supply chain, while contributing positively to the lives of the children affected and their communities.

Project aims and objectives

To assist companies in identifying the likely risk of child labour in their supply chains. To provide practical strategies for identifying child labour and dealing with it in a credible and coordinated manner, where it is found.

Key achievements and challenges:

Mapping Survey and identification of project location – completed 2002
Initial assessment of global child labour risks carried out by analysing information available from existing sources. The results of this were compared with a ranked list of the country/industry product sources of corporate members, and a list of potential trade union and NGO partners in supplier countries, in order to identify an appropriate location for a pilot project. As a result of this mapping process Tamil Nadu, South India, was identified as an appropriate location for a pilot project to explore a credible and co-ordinated response to child labour. In addition, the mapping methodology was documented and shared with members.
Research report on the Garment Industry in Tamil Nadu and Child Labour. Based on desk research and a visit to Tamil Nadu in May 2002
Discussions with potential project partners in Tamil Nadu
- November 2002 a member of the Secretariat visited Tamil Nadu to learn from the International Labour Organisation’s work on child labour there and to meet with potential trade union and NGO partner organisations. The visit identified a number of useful lessons from the ILO’s experience and confirmed that local partners were willing to work with the ETI in seeking to tackle the problems and identify lessons.
- January 2003 a tripartite delegation visited the area. A meeting of ETI members’ suppliers was hosted, and visits were made to a number of factories and schools providing examples of how child labour is currently being addressed both within business and by trade unions and NGOs. Commitment was gained to work as part of a local tripartite forum.
- September 2003 a larger visit by retailers, trade union and NGO representatives. The trip provided an opportunity to learn about child labour and included visits to schools and factories and meetings with child labourers, government and potential partners. A tripartite seminar to share learning and to formally launch the project locally by establishing a local tripartite project group and agreeing a preliminary action plan.
Between September 2003 and August 2004 efforts were made to put the plan into action, however this proved extremely challenging and time-consuming and little headway was made in delivering concrete actions. In addition we failed to recruit a local Coordinator suitable to both the ETI and the local partners. This situation gave the UK group cause to re-evaluate the project.
In August 2004 the UK group met to discuss the future of the project. It emerged that despite the commitment and best efforts of all members of the tripartite groups (both in India and the UK), achieving the level of communication and pace that the project needed to progress proved impossible. It was therefore unanimously agreed to close the project in its current form.
The lessons from the project were documented and shared on the public area of the ETI website in April 2005.

Plans

In June 2005 a group of interested ETI members met to discuss what ETI should do to take forward work on this issue. It was agreed that for this work to be successful we will need, in the first instance, to get a consensus view among the tripartite membership on what we aim to achieve and how. It was therefore agreed that some preliminary work should be carried out by the membership to ensure that progress can be made. The following preliminary steps towards producing guidance for companies were agreed as:

Negotiate agreement between a small and focused tripartite sub-group on a Terms of Reference – setting out both the scope of the guidelines and process for their development.
Review existing resources on the roles of the different parties (government, retailer, suppliers, trade unions, NGOs etc)

Once that has been completed we will explore the options for what further work in this area is appropriate (possibly involving suppliers/partners in other parts of the world). A small tripartite sub-group will meet to start work on the Terms of Reference and review of existing resources in early 2006.

Which ETI members were involved in the India phase of the project?

Companies: CWS, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Mothercare, Peter Black, J. Sainsbury Ltd, Tesco;
Trade Unions: GMB, ITGLWF, TUC;
NGOs: Anti-Slavery International, Save the Children UK.

As well as their suppliers, affiliates and partners inTamil Nadu.

For further information contact:

info@eti.org.uk.

Project documents:

Disclaimer

The views expressed in the CRI Journal are those of the author's and are included to enhance discussion, they do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Children's Rights International.