Lotte Schuurman at the Fair Wear Foundation says if parents have no education they will end up in low-paid work; their children will be forced to work, they will miss out on their education, and they too will end up in low-paid work as adults.
The Fair Wear Foundation has a list of over brands that have signed up to its code of labour practices, which do not allow for the use of child labour. Other accreditation schemes exist, such as the Fairtrade Label Organisation, the Global Organic Textile Standard and the Ethical Trading Initiative, but all of them struggle with the lack of transparency in the textile and garment supply chain.
Schuurman says there are practical steps that companies can take to rid their supply chains of child labour. Fashion brands normally have or more suppliers. You should start by knowing who your manufacturers are and visiting them. Companies can also address their purchasing practices, which can make working conditions worse. Sometimes that is enforced by the brand; it puts too much pressure on the factory. It is also important to make workers aware of their rights so they know where to file a complaint.
Child labour in the fashion supply chain Where, why and what can be done. The ILO estimates that million are engaged in child labour , with many making textiles and garments to satisfy the demand of consumers in Europe, the US, and beyond. Why does it exist? Where is it happening? They work in fields, in factories, down mines, as servants or maids, or selling goods in the street or at markets. Girls are more likely than boys to do domestic work, such as cleaning, making food and serving.
The work that children can be forced to do might also be illegal - such as working with drug gangs or in prostitution. Many children may get no money for the work they do but they will get food and a place to sleep. If they become sick or injured, most children will not get any money for missing work. All these forms of child labour can prevent a child from going to school and limit their opportunity to fulfil their potential. Many child labourers never go to school or drop out.
Education is a proven strategy for reducing child labour. Lack of access to education keeps the cycle of exploitation, illiteracy and poverty going — limiting future options and forcing children to accept low-wage work as adults and to raise their own children in poverty. Children who have access to education can break the cycle of poverty at the root of child labour. In many countries children working under the age of 18 is illegal - but not in all.
Families and employers often hide what they are doing because they worry they will be taken to court or sent to prison for having child labourers. There are 46 countries who do not have laws to protect children under 18 from doing dangerous work.
The International Labour Organization said in that about million children aged from five to 17 - 64 million girls and 88 million girls - are engaged in child labour. Many of them never go to school or drop out of school because they are required to work to earn a living for their families or have to work to survive themselves.
Poverty, discrimination and marginalisation are the main drivers of child labour. Children in poor circumstances work because work is seen as the best use of their time in contributing to the needs of the family and preparing them for the life they are expected to lead. It is also home to an estimated , child laborers. Check out our photo gallery on child labor in the chocolate industry. Fortunately, there are quite a few options for fairly traded chocolate, many of which can be found in local super markets.
Look for labels stating they are ethically produced. Some of our favorites are Theo and Equal Exchange. In Uzbekistan, the entire population is forced to pick cotton during harvest , including the children. This cotton eventually becomes the clothes you may have in your closet. The fashion industry's supply chains often utilize child labor, whether it is when the cotton is picked or the factories in which it is spun. The good news is that the fashion industry is responding to this criticism!
There are a variety of fair trade clothing options available. Our favorite is People Tree as they have a large selection of beautiful clothing!
These are just four of the hundreds of products made by child labor. Some of the other top offenders include: coffee, tobacco, cattle, bricks, rice and coal. By becoming a smarter consumer we can stop the demand for slave-made products. February 23, Kristin Schulz Opinion. If you'd like to fill your closet with clothing you can feel good about, check out these 5 simple ways to purchase more ethically-produced gear.
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