International labor law and child's rightb Flashcards
What is the definition of a child according to the UNCRC?
Anyone under 18 years old.
UNCRC stands for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
What does Article 32 of the UNCRC state regarding child labour?
Prohibits economic exploitation and work that hinders education or harms health.
Article 32 outlines the rights of children to be protected from harmful work.
What is the UK minimum age for children to work part-time?
13 years old (unless with a performance license).
The minimum age for full-time work is 16, but must remain in part-time education until 18.
What is the estimated number of children working globally according to the ILO?
168 million children.
This accounts for almost 11% of the child population.
List three examples of hazardous work for children according to ILO Convention No. 182.
- Working underground
- Working with dangerous equipment
- Working long hours in unhealthy environments
These types of work can harm children’s health and safety.
What is the minimum age for employment set by ILO Convention No. 138?
15 years old, with exceptions for developing countries allowing a minimum age of 14.
Light work can be done from ages 12 or 13 under certain conditions.
True or False: Child labour is synonymous with youth employment.
False.
Child labour is a human rights violation, while youth employment can be legal and beneficial.
What are the main human rights impacts associated with child labour?
- Right to education
- Right to a safe work environment
- Long-term psychological harm due to unsafe conditions
These impacts can hinder children’s development and well-being.
Fill in the blank: The ILO defines child labour as _______.
exploitative work that harms a child’s well-being.
This definition emphasizes the negative consequences of child labour on education and future livelihoods.
What dilemma do companies face regarding child labour in their supply chains?
How to address child labour without worsening children’s situations by removing income opportunities.
This dilemma is complicated by socio-economic factors.
What percentage of child labourers work in agriculture according to the ILO?
59% or over 98 million child labourers.
This highlights the prevalence of child labour in the agricultural sector.
What are common reasons for the prevalence of child labour?
- High poverty rates
- Lack of educational opportunities
- Cultural norms regarding work
These factors contribute to children working in various sectors.
List the sectors where child labour is most prevalent.
- Agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Mines/Quarries
These sectors account for the majority of child labour occurrences.
What is the role of companies in addressing child labour according to the text?
Companies should manage and mitigate risks associated with child labour in their supply chains.
This includes considering socio-economic contexts and potential impacts on children.
True or False: All forms of child work are considered harmful.
False.
Light work that does not interfere with education or rights can be acceptable.
What is one possible solution for companies facing child labour issues?
Providing education within the workplace.
This can help mitigate the risks of child labour but must be carefully implemented to avoid negative consequences.
What is the significance of the Verisk Maplecroft Child Labour Index 2015?
It identifies the 10 highest risk countries for child labour.
The index is a tool for understanding child labour risks globally.
List the 10 highest risk countries for child labour according to the Verisk Maplecroft Child Labour Index 2015.
- Eritrea
- DR Congo
- Somalia
- Pakistan
- Central African Republic
- Zimbabwe
- Sudan
- Burundi
- Afghanistan
- Chad
These countries face significant challenges related to child labour.
What sectors have the highest levels of child and forced labour?
Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mines/Quarries
Specific examples include cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, cattle, fish, rice, cocoa in agriculture; bricks, garments, carpets, fireworks in manufacturing; and gold, coal, diamonds in mines/quarries.
What was the estimated number of children working full-time stitching footballs in Sialkot, Pakistan in the 1980s?
More than 7,000 children aged 7 to 14
These children provided vital supplementary income to their families.
What was the outcome of the media attention regarding child labour in football production?
Negative publicity for FIFA and major brands around the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1996 European Football Championships
LIFE magazine featured a story on a 12-year-old boy making footballs, garnering substantial attention.
What initiative was created in response to child labour in football production?
The Atlanta Partnership
Involved sporting goods brands, suppliers, ILO, and UNICEF to provide children the opportunity to attend school.
How many children were estimated to be employed in the surgical instruments manufacturing industry in Sialkot?
Approximately 5,800 children
They worked an average of nine hours a day earning between US$17.00 and US$38.00 per month.
In what year did Nestle’s report reveal child labour in its cocoa supply chain?
2015
The Fair Labor Association’s report found 25 workers under the age of 15 on farms visited.
What is one consequence of prohibiting children from working on family farms?
It may exacerbate levels of destitution
This could increase vulnerability to trafficking in children.
What is the purpose of Nestle’s Child Labour, Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS)?
To provide training on identification, prevention, and remediation of child labour
By mid-2015, it covered 33 cooperatives and over 31,807 children.
How many cases of underage labour did Apple discover in its supply chain during a 2013 audit?
106 cases
This included issues like bonded workers and forced overtime.
What are the three international instruments guiding national labour legislation prohibiting child labour?
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour
- ILO Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age of Admission to Employment
These instruments set standards for child labour laws worldwide.
What legal risks do companies face for failing to comply with national laws on child labour?
Civil and/or criminal sanctions, financial penalties, reputational damage
Companies may be sued by former child workers for exploitative practices.
What does ‘complicity’ mean in the context of business and human rights?
Indirect involvement of companies in human rights abuses
Companies knowingly contributing to another’s abuse of human rights can face legal action.
What happened to Agriprocessors after a 2008 raid by US federal authorities?
Charged with over 9,311 child labour violations and filed for bankruptcy
The case revealed illegal hiring of minors and hazardous work conditions.
What are some non-legal risks companies face related to child labour allegations?
- Reputational risk
- Financial risk
- Operational risk
These can lead to reduced sales, loss of market share, or operational disruptions.
What framework provides guidance on protecting human rights in business?
UN ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ Framework
It includes three principles: Protect, Respect, and Remedy.
What are the main components of human rights due diligence according to the UN Guiding Principles?
- Policies
- Impact assessment
- Integration
- Tracking performance
These components help businesses respect human rights in their operations.
What should a company do if national laws on child labour are lower than international standards?
Strive to meet the higher international standards
This includes compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO conventions.
What is a key requirement for companies operating in emerging economies regarding child labour?
Develop and implement human rights policies and procedures
This ensures a socially responsible approach to eliminating child labour.
What is the purpose of a human rights impact assessment?
To gauge the likelihood and nature of child labour within the supply chain
It should ideally be conducted before operations commence.
What action can companies take to ensure ongoing monitoring of child labour prevalence?
Develop a complaints mechanism
This encourages the detection of child labour within the supply chain.
What training should company managers and suppliers receive to prevent child labour?
- Understanding relevant child labour laws
- Implementing company policy
- Detecting falsified documentation
- Health and safety procedures for young workers
Ongoing training is essential for awareness and compliance.
What is a key component of responsible approaches to preventing child labour in the workplace?
Training suppliers and company personnel on child rights
Training is essential for understanding laws, policies, and health procedures related to child labour.
What areas should company managers and suppliers receive training in regarding child labour?
- Understanding relevant child labour laws
- Implementing company policy
- Ascertaining the age of workers
- Health and safety procedures for young workers
What is the Business for Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)?
A non-profit organisation dedicated to improving working conditions and eliminating child labour in the global supply chain
BSCI provides training to its members, including retailers and brand names.
What initiative has IKEA undertaken to address child labour?
IKEA holds workshops for suppliers and partners with UNICEF to establish self-help groups for women
These groups focus on child rights, health, nutrition, and economic empowerment.
What should a company consider when monitoring suppliers’ factories in high child labour areas?
Identifying and responsibly preventing child labour practices
Monitoring can be done by the company or third-party auditors.
What are some methods used during audits to prevent child labour?
- Interviewing management about policies
- Interviewing employees about child labour use
- Inspecting the workplace for child labour signs
- Checking contracts and identity documents
Why is regular monitoring important in the supply chain?
To ensure continuous improvement and immediate corrective action if children are found in the workplace
What was the purpose of the independent monitoring facility launched in Sialkot?
To verify that children were not present in factories and to assist children in returning to school
The facility also helped women move into dedicated work centres.
What is a human rights impact assessment?
An assessment that predicts possible human rights impacts from an investment or business activity
It helps identify risk factors for future monitoring.
What topics might be covered when interviewing former child labourers?
- Employment status of parents
- Child’s educational opportunities
- Household environment
- Child’s future concerns
What support might be provided to children removed from the workplace?
- Access to schooling
- Health assessment and treatment
- Training for future job opportunities
What initiative has helped thousands of children gain access to education in Sialkot?
The RugMark initiative, which has provided literacy programmes and vocational training
Over 3,000 children have benefited from this initiative.
What is the benefit of sector-wide, multi-stakeholder partnerships in addressing child labour?
They provide expertise, save money, and share best practices
Partnerships allow for a holistic approach to tackling child labour issues.
What does the Elimination of Child Labour in Tobacco Foundation do?
- Conducts research on child labour prevalence
- Runs projects to reduce child labour
- Shares good practices with stakeholders
