Access to Decent Work For Youth (AD-Y) Programme
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 child labour by enhancing training and management systems.
WHY THIS INITIATIVE?
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.
WHY SHOULD BRANDS ENGAGE?
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
HOW DOES THE PROGRAMME WORK?
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PROGRAMME IMPACT AND HIGHLIGHTS
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.
Because of our programme, every participant has experienced:
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POSITIVE CHANGES AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE ACCESS TO DECENT WORK FOR YOUTH PROGRAMME
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EXPLORE OUR PROJECT UPDATES AND STORIES
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.
Mekong Timber Plantations Integrates Youth Development Programme into its Long-term Business Operations
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Seidensticker Supports Indonesian Garment Supplier to Invest in Marginalised Youth
Watch the video
We will definitely be continuing the Access to Decent Work for Youth programme independently in 2025 to recruit more young workers, as we have seen its benefits not only to our factory but also to the young workers themselves.
－A Supplier in Vietnam, 2024
I want to become a supervisor one day in this factory. Therefore, I plan to stay with the factory and continue to learn new skills to prepare better for my career path.
Through this project, I think not only young workers got the opportunity to improve, but the company and our staffs who are involved in implementing or monitoring the project also learn and grow along the way.
－An HR Manager whose factory took part in a youth development programme in Indonesia (2020)
The project carried out by The Centre in our company has yielded good results and we are very satisfied with your company's help. Through The Centre’s professional training, we have broadened the thinking of young employees and inspired their positive spirit.
－Vice President, Mr. Zhang, whose factory in China took part in a young worker support programme in 2019 and 2020
I want to become a supervisor one day in this factory. Therefore, I plan to stay with the factory and continue to learn new skills to prepare better for my career path.
(Date: 2020)
－A male young worker at Scansia in Vietnam who took part in a youth development programme
I attended the young worker development programme in September, which made me rethink my future development. I chose a job close to home this year because of COVID-19. I found that there are also learning and development opportunities here after I joined KVE. I also applied to participate in job skill training outside my current position. My plan is to learn the skill set of the entire production line to see if I have the opportunity to work in technical positions or as a manager in the future. (Date: 2020)
－Mr. Wei, a young worker at KVE factory in Sichuan, China
After a period of training, young workers are now proving good productivity. They are young and energetic, and quick learning, especially when working with data, computers and languages, and we saw that they were happy working on these jobs.
－An HR manager in Vietnam whose factory took part in a youth development programme in 2019
We started our juvenile worker recruitment programme in 2018 but besides the policy, we did not know how to turn it into actions and how to correctly recruit, develop and support juvenile workers. Now we are running a systematic way of supporting a young worker workforce at our factory.
－Ngoc Son Hafuco’s HR Manager, Vietnam, 2020.
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