Child Labour Resource Guide

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

2005

Free

Free

English

 infoqueries@unicef.org.uk

 http://www.unicef.org.uk/campaigns/publications/clrg/index.asp

General Guidance

Child labour

This Guide has been designed to help businesses establish an appropriate response when they suspect or find that children might be working for them or their suppliers. It will also help businesses entering new markets or product areas identify child labour risks.

The Guide offers a basic step-by-step approach to managing child labour risk responsibly, and illustrates why shareholders care about child labour.

The executive summary explains why children work, the types of labour they are involved in, and discusses the numbers of children believed to be working today. The six appendices provide in-depth information on particular aspects of child labour:

Appendix 1 considers international legal standards on child labour. It highlights the relevance of these standards for business andexplains why their priorities and processes should be taken into account when action against child labour is being considered.

Appendix 2 examines different types of standards and codes of conduct on corporate social responsibility, with specific reference to child labour. Organisations under the spotlight include businesses, trade unions, individual governments and the UN.

Appendix 3 presents examples of competing companies that have cooperated in order to reduce the number of children in manufacturing for export (garment or apparel industry, sporting goods, hand-knotted carpets, cultivation of cocoa).

Appendix 4 highlights the extent to which businesses can investigate, monitor and verify the codes or standards they establish.

Appendix 5 explores domestic law on child labour in two contrasting countries - India and the UK. Unpicking the complexities of domestic legislation, it looks at how these countries are protecting their children.

Appendix 6 considers the examples of four major international companies that have adopted codes excluding the use of under-age child workers by their suppliers.

Yes, the Guide refers to monitoring and auditing requirements within the context of a comprehensive child labour management structure (see also appendices).

Companies

Consultants

Trade Unions

All sectors

All regions

Large

Medium

Yes, see especially appendices 3 and 6.

No. The Guide is conceived as a resource book.

Advanced

The tool constitutes a guidance document and cannot therefore be adapted to individual company situations. However, case studies may help companies in designing their corporate strategy.

• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• UN Draft Norms on the Responsibility of TNCs and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights
• Universal Declaration on Human Rights

• ILO Convention on Forced Labour (no.29)
• ILO Convention on Minimum Age (no. 138)
• ILO Convention on the Abolition of Forced Labour (no.105)
• ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (no. 182)
• ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

Compliance with national laws and regulations in the country of operation.

Productive and freely chosen work

Right to work

Prohibition of forced or compulsory labour

Prohibition of child labour

Rights at work including the core labour standards

Right to equal treatment and non-discrimination between women and men, gender issues

Right to equal treatment and non-discrimination concerning all other groups

Diversity Management

Right to education

Right to safe and healthy working conditions

Right to fair wages

Right to equal pay for equal work

Right to decent living

Right to rest, leisure and annual leave

Right to reasonable limitation of working hours

Right to permanent employment relationship

Right to privacy

Right to strike

Right to form and join trade unions

Grievance procedures and remediation

Social protection

Right to social security including social insurance, pensions

Mitigation of adverse employment effects

Social dialogue

Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining

Tripartite consultation

External impact

Right to an adequate standard of living

Security issues, private property protection

Right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

• Child labour
• Discrimination
• Forced and bonded labour
• Freedom of expression / - of the press / access to information
• Harassment
• Health and wellbeing
• Indigenous peoples
• Legal protection gaps
• Local communities
• Migrant workers
• Minorities
• Physical abuse / threats
• Recruitment and employment practices
• Social investment
• Stakeholder engagement
• Supply chain management
• Trafficking in human beings
• Working conditions
• Young workers

No

Yes

Yes, it very briefly outlines the key elements of a child labour risk assessment and analysis (see executive summary). However, to conduct a thorough impact assessment you might have to consult other specific impact assessment tools.

No

The Guide covers a broad range of issues and gives extensive background information on the complexities of child labour. It provides recommendations for the establishment of a child labour management system and explains the legal background. Moreover, it includes comparative evaluations and quality assessments of various codes of conducts and initiatives in the sector. It provides information about successful sector and stakeholder cooperation as well as monitoring and verification strategies.

Use the Guide to gain in depth-knowledge about child labour issues and to learn about various approaches that currently exist in this field. The numerous case studies and analyses will deepen your understanding of practical challenges, and may help in setting up your company strategy. See the appendix on "further information" for links to other child labour and CSR organisations.

Child_labour_executive_summary_C.pdf
appendix1_child_labour-_legal_standards.pdf
appendix2_child_labour_codes_of_conduct.pdf
appendix3_child_labour_trade_associations.pdf
appendix4_child_labour_developing_countries.pdf
appendix5_child_labour_domestic_law.pdf
appendix6_child_labour_policies.pdf