to negotiate better wages and improve labor conditions (Overeem & Theuws, 2014). In other words, as stated by Overeem & Theuws, “child labor sustains poverty rather being a way out of “poverty”.
of the supply chain, as well as at the buying end of the textiles and garment industry, mainly because there is still a large amount of countries with a small amount of restriction laws.
Last, but not least, it is crucial to highlight the huge difference between what is acceptable and what is a violation of human rights. Based on the legal age limit for children, not all work that children do constitutes child labor. In other words, placing the age limit at 18 can have adverse consequences. Decent work opportunities for young people are important for their development. But, Eniko Horvath, the UN Guiding Principles Researcher stresses: “Consumer demand is not an excuse for companies. The cost of respecting human rights always needs to be part of any business model.” (Gould, 2015).
Nonetheless, creating and enforcing fair labor standards is key for all involved parties in this matter, including governments, conventions, companies and so on. As mentioned earlier in Eniko Horvath’s statement, companies should not be excused for paying more than the suggested minimum wage. Especially because they have control over this particular matter that could improve the issue. As explained by Smestad: “while it is not possible to have control over whether the family must rely on the labor of a child to survive, it is possible to have some measure of control over labor standards: wages, working conditions, and benefits.” (Smestad, 2012).
What Could Be The Solution? First of all, let us take a look at the different legal actions that have already taken action. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), there are four principles that should underpin any action concerning children. These core principlwes are: the best interest of the child, non-discrimination, child participation, and survival and development (Overeem & Theuws, 2014). Another important aspect is the role of the government in combating child labor. It is each individual government’s responsibility to translate the above mentioned and other contents of international treaties and conventions, such as the ILO, into national legislation. Governments play an important role in ensuring that labor laws are implemented and enforced. However, it is fair to state that there is still a long way to go for the countries at the production end
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As for the buying companies, suggested solutions include extended supply chain responsibility that requires the buyers to look not only the end-assembly phase, but also into preceding steps, like the sourcing of the raw cotton. In connection with this, another solution could be the human rights risks assessment and continuous monitoring. This refers to a good understanding of the particular local context, consultation and cooperation with local stakeholders, including trade unions, civil society organizations and community-based organizations. From the children’s development point of view, ensuring support for children that are employed at the company’s own operations and/or in operations across the entire supply chain, including access to education. This being of the utmost importance, companies should not limit their efforts to seeing that children are removed from the workplace, but rather facilitate their transition to a formal ed-