New Publication: Beyond Pledges on Child Labour: It’s Not Just Human Rights, It’s Your Business Too

The Centre has released a new publication examining progress on eradicating child labour and the persistent barriers that prevent businesses from addressing the issue more effectively. With a particular focus on the lower tiers of supply chains, where child labour is most prevalent, the publication serves both as a practical guide and a clear reminder: more action is urgently needed.

“Beyond Pledges on Child Labour: It's not just a human rights issue, it's your business too” comes on the heels of new global estimates from the ILO and UNICEF, published on June 11. The report confirms that efforts to meet Target 8.7 have been neither fast nor effective enough. 138 million are still in child labour according to the report, a decline from 160 million reported four years ago. While this reduction is a step in the right direction, it falls far short of what's needed to eliminate child labour worldwide.

This finding calls for reflection. While it is common to say, “Child labour is a complex challenge that requires collaboration,” this sentiment can sometimes act as a barrier to action, leading us to wait for systemic changes instead of taking immediate, tangible steps to support children affected by child labour.

Our latest publication urges businesses to move beyond rhetoric and implement concrete strategies to combat child labour. While no single company can eradicate poverty or replace the role of the government, every business can evaluate its supply chain practices to help prevent child labour.

We hope this publication encourages reflection and motivates you and your business to take decisive action.

Download the Publication