The Centre’s Access to Decent Work for Youth (AD-Y) programme connects disadvantaged youth to decent jobs and skills development in formal workplaces. By offering these opportunities, international companies help reduce the risk of child labour in their supply chains. The programme ensures that young workers are recruited, managed, and developed according to national laws and international standards, providing safe alternatives for at-risk youth. Aligned with human rights due diligence laws like the EU CSDDD, the programme helps companies address adverse impacts on young workers and supports efforts to end childlabour by enhancing training and management systems.

• According to ILO’s 2021 Global Estimates of Child Labour, 160 million children (one in ten) are engaged in child labour. Of these, 73 million are in hazardous work that endangers their health, safety, and moral development.
  
  

• Many global suppliers avoid hiring under-18s due to compliance fears and lack of experience with youth management. This lack of opportunities in Tier 1 workplaces pushes young workers into informal sectors, where they are at risk of exploitation and child labour.
  
  

• Under 18s who have reached the minimum working age are legally allowed to work as long as it does not impair their physical, mental and personal development. Denying them work violates their rights and increases the risk of human rights and labour violations.

• Reduce child labour risks in your supply chain by eliminating the occurrence of young workers engaging in hazardous work

• Build the capacity of your suppliers by receiving training on:

  - Recruitment of young workers and setting up robust onboarding programmes suitable for young workers

  - Managing young workers in compliance with local laws and international standards

  - Ensuring safe and supportive working conditions and accurate communication for the young workers

  - Identifying suitable workstations and production lines for young workers

  - In-factory skill training for young workers (with gender perspective)

• Showcase support to youth and align your company with the decent work for youth agenda

• Build a resilient supply chain with a pipeline for a young, multi-skilled workforce

• Align with international laws and frameworks such as the EU CSDDD, conventions, and guidance by the ILO and UN Guiding Principles

The Centre’s access to decent work for youth programme has run globally across five countries (Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam) in 99 factories.

Now most of our workers are about 40-50 years old. It is hard to imagine what the factory will look like in 10 years, so we need to foster the young workforce starting now.” - a manager at a factory that took part in an access to decent work for youth programme in china

We publish stories and updates on our global programmes regularly, including case stories and videos about our Access to Decent Work for Youth programmes. Click here to start exploring.

Contact us to discuss how The Centre’s Access to Decent Work for Youth programme can support your business to create decent work opportunities for young workers and recruit juvenile workers with confidence.