Analysing Child Labour in Supply Chains: A Trade Openness Case Study

This case study examines the complex relationship between increasing trade openness and the challenges of tracing and monitoring child labour in global supply chains. It highlights the socio-economic pressures that render individuals vulnerable to child labour, including forced labour and human t...Read More

Case study

How might increasing trade openness (i.e., the ability to transport goods across national borders)
make it harder to trace and monitor the use of child labour in complex global supply
chains?
It is hard to trace and monitor the use of child labour in complex global supply chains
after increasing trade openness. As there is increased ability for transport goods across national
borders there are increased challenges for monitoring and tracing use of child labour. The main
dimension is associated with responsibility of states for protecting workers with territory and
jurisdiction. This is needed for establishing as well as enforcing a framework for responsible
business conduct. There are socio economic pressures are involved in rendering workers as well
as individuals vulnerable to child labour. These are forced labour and human trafficking which
are mutually reinforcing. There are few socio economic pressures that makes families less able
for avoiding reliance on child labour. These type of pressures can contribute to decision of
people for migrating better opportunities. There are different dimensions associated with risk
involved in conducting business operations. Some factors like awareness, capacity, policy
commitment as well as action within business are in relation to responsibility for respecting
fundamental principles. the extent for child labour within a region is estimated in the
contribution for exports to other region which varies across regions.
Consider the social, economic, mental and physical effects
Child labour is the act of making children of less than 13 years to work at restaurants,
shops, homes, roads, etc. The different areas which are affected by child labour are mentioned
below –
Social – The society gets affected by child labour. This can be concluded as child labour
and exploitation as well as production of child pornography is affecting society negatively. This
can result in poverty, social norms etc. for managing condoning to adults and adolescents. These
type of factors are not only cause but consequence for social inequities. Child labour is linked
with child abuse and this includes different type of mental, sexual, emotional and physical.
Economic – Child labour is impacting growth but it is an artefact of lack of growth.
There are several children who work in agriculture field in family farms. The introduction for
new productive assets within family stages of growth can lead to more child development.
Illiteracy rate of country increases due to child labour. When there will be less number of literate

people then unemployment will increase. This will gradually lead to minimise economic growth
and development.
Mental – The mental health of children gets badly affected when they are forced to work
at early age. Early stages of childhood are very important for brain development. That is why
there is need to avoid child labour activities. Emotional neglect like deprivation of family
affection and love which results in hopelessness and loneliness.
Physical – The physical health of children gets badly impacted due to child labour.
Children who are involved in such activities have injuries and abuses such as burns, cuts,
fractures, lacerations, etc.
Who should be responsible for child labour in supply chains?
A. Families who sell their children to farmers or miners of raw material
B. Governments and business who do not check and enforce existing child labour laws.
C. Businesses who do not check/enforce international norms and standards banning the
use of child labour in their supply chains.
D. Consumers who buy low-cost goods from developing countries where child labour is
used in to extract raw materials and, in the manufacturing, production process.
E. The international community
F. Some or all the above
In what circumstances can working be beneficial to children?
It is not right that the child labour is harmful in all the conditions, every child has different
family back ground according to which the child perform if the conditions of their family is not
good in term of finance they have to work for their family and it does not include any
exploitation. The circumstances where working is beneficial to children is given below.
 Economic benefits :- One of the most important beneficial aspect of child labour is
economic. The reason for this work is severe poverty. Income generate from the work of
child can adds essential resources in food of poor people because the income of the
earning adult of poor family cannot fulfil the basic needs of life. Apart from basic
amenities of life the income of child can improve the standard of living of poor family.

 Education outside formal institutions :- It is not possible for the working child of poor
family to go school and takes educations but it does not means that child will become
illiterate because the scope education is not limited up to the school. The working
environment develops many skills in the child, it includes personality development,
practical knowledge, market knowledge, physical abilities.
 School and work cooperation :- In the present scenario it possible for the child to
continue school with the work if the authorities can make the working and schooling
hours flexible for child. He can doing work before or after the school hours. This
phenomena can develop the academic skills along with the market skills.
Can child labour help children and their families escape poverty? Can you find some examples?
According to many surveys, Poverty plays a major part in the child labour. Forced child
labour cover a minor segment in child labour. There are many sections where child work can
develop the basic knowledge as well as escapes the poverty.
 Child work in supply chain industry: - The ratio of child working in supply chain
sector is very high and supply chain sector is one from the most profitable sector in an
economy. Supply chain not includes bondage labour and exploitation. Most child work in
this sector and earns considerable amount for the betterment of their families.
 Working in grocery shops: - Most of the child labour revenue comes from the grocery
sector. In this sector the working child simply perform the buying selling activities and
earn the equitable amount. It is seen that most grocery store owner appoints child an
executive because the labour cost of child is low in comparison to adult so child is the
first preference for shop owners.
Part time jobs: - One of the favourable work which child doing in most European countries is
part time jobs. It is seen in most developed nations that many students doing part time jobs along
with their studies, the revenue generations help their families to use for their basic needs and
requirements.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ansong, A., 2020, May. SDG 8 and Elimination of Child Labour in the Cocoa Industry in
Ghana: Can WTO Law and Private Sector Responsible Business Initiatives Help?. In
Forum for Development Studies (Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 261-281). Routledge.
Boruah, J., 2021. Role of Article 23 in Abolishing Child Labour-A Brief Analysis. Available at
SSRN 3823693.
Fatima, S., 2021. Child Labour: Chasm between aspirations and reality. Available at SSRN.
Häberli, C., 2020. Child Labour in Agriculture–Trade Issue.
Hazari, B. and Mohan, V., 2021. Child Labour and Social Exclusion: A Trade-theoretic
Analysis. Economic and Political Weekly, 56(1), pp.49-56
King, J., 2020. Child Labour and the Idolatry of Nature in “The Cry of the Children” and A
Drama of Exile. Women's Writing, 27(4), pp.404-415.
Nakasi, I.V., 2021. Community perception on child labour in Kasangati town council, Wakiso
district (Doctoral dissertation, Makerere University).
Reichert, S., 2021. Rethinking Child Labour In The Global Political System: Policy Analysis Of
The African Approach.