Driving Business Success Through Child Labour Remediation

Photo: The child taking sewing lessons at a vocational learning centre as part of her remediation programme

In 2021, a 14-year-old girl was found working in hazardous conditions at a cotton factory in Bangladesh as part of a rapid assessment conducted by The Centre. This assessment was initiated at the brand's request after their audit revealed a high risk of child labour.

The girl’s situation highlighted serious issues within the factory’s labour practices, which included an inadequate age verification process and insufficient awareness of effective recruitment practices among HR staff. She came from a financially struggling background without formal education and was also dealing with a degenerative eye disease that had caused her to lose sight in one eye. Once aware of her circumstances, both the factory and the brand acted positively by funding a comprehensive 34-month remediation programme. This programme included vocational training and home-based tutoring aimed at improving her literacy and numeracy skills.

Remediation as an opportunity to improve business practices

The factory's cooperative approach during the rapid assessment and remediation process not only enabled necessary changes but also improved its overall operations. The management recognised remediation as an opportunity to address deficiencies in their practices, enhancing their understanding of labour compliance and strengthening partnerships with current and potential brands. By fully supporting the assessment process and providing the necessary documentation, the factory demonstrated a commitment to better labour practices, ultimately enhancing its reputation.

The brand's ongoing involvement throughout the process provided additional benefits. By leveraging their business relationship with the factory and supporting The Centre from the initial assessment to family visits, they ensured the girl was immediately removed from hazardous work, thereby promoting a safer working environment within their supply chain.

Regular updates on the girl’s progress created a feedback loop that allowed the brand to measure the impact of their interventions that fostered a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. When The Centre informed the brand about the girl’s eye condition and proposed surgery, the brand acted swiftly, approving funding without hesitation. This quick decision not only transformed the girl’s life but also reinforced the brand's commitment to ethical practices, setting a positive example within the industry.

Additionally, The Centre's training on child labour prevention and remediation at the factory offered long-term benefits. By enhancing the factory's ability to identify and mitigate child labour risks, it established a responsible recruitment process and revised its policies accordingly. This positioning as an employer that upholds human rights due diligence in the supply chain improved its public image and competitiveness in the market.

Overall, the proactive measures taken by both the brand and the factory resulted in operational improvements, including significantly reduced child labour risk and strengthened capacity and knowledge among factory staff regarding responsible recruitment. It also led to stronger client relationships and demonstrated a commitment to ethical labour practices that align with frameworks on human rights due diligence and child rights.