A Report on Child Labour Practices and Solutions in Supply Chains

This report delves into the pervasive issue of child labour within the global supply chain industry. It begins by outlining the major causes, including poverty and lack of education, which drive children into exploitative working conditions. The report then examines the profound impact of child labour on an individual's life, hindering social development and causing emotional and physical harm. It identifies various contributors to the continuation of child labour, including ineffective regulations and lack of attention from international firms. While acknowledging arguments that sometimes favor child labor, the report emphasizes the overwhelmingly negative impacts, such as hazardous working environments and compromised safety. The report also discusses the effects of banning child labour and proposes potential solutions, like stricter law enforcement and rehabilitation programs. The conclusion underscores the devastating consequences of child labour and advocates for a future where children are protected and provided with safe environments.

ASSESSMENT
PART – B

Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Main Body...................................................................................................................................................3
Major causes of Child labour within supply chain industry.....................................................................3
Impact of child labour in an individual’s life...........................................................................................3
Contributors to child labour practices......................................................................................................4
Positive Considerations of Child Labour.................................................................................................4
Negative Impact of Child Labour............................................................................................................4
Impact of Partial or Permanent ban of child labour.................................................................................5
Potential solutions to child labour...........................................................................................................5
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................5
References...................................................................................................................................................6

Introduction
Child labour can considered to be one of the most significant concerns across the global domain.
There are numerous industries which capitalise upon children in order to facilitate their market
operations. Supply chain industry can be termed as one of those industries wherein excessively
reliability is extended upon the child labour practices in order to regulate supply operations
(Sadler Lawrence, 2020). The report will provide a detailed argument in respect with the ongoing
child labour practices within the supply chain industry worldwide.
Main Body
Major causes of Child labour within supply chain industry
There are several reasons that direct children in such unfortunate labour conditions. Lack of
money can be stated as the most common factor that forcefully guide innocent lives to indulge
themselves within dangerous and harmful working environment. Also, within supply chain
industry, the education criterion is relatively low which in turn increases the chances of children
to be employed within the same. In order to support the family and ensure that food is on the
table, many children get persuaded to earn for their families and support the same (Trinh, 2020).
It can be said that extreme poverty and inadequacy to live a basic livelihood compels the children
to become a part of this vicious chain.
Impact of child labour in an individual’s life
Child labour practises facilitate in hindering the social life of children. When children are
indulged into child labour at a very young age, their social network is reduced to minimum and
most of the time is captured by extensive work. Family, friendship, love and belongingness
aspect is reduced from the lives of innocent minds. And emotional well-being of children is also
hampered in a very negative manner. They start Indulging in substance abuse due to lack of
supervision. This in turn makes them more vulnerable, reduces their self-esteem and confidence,
enhanced isolation (Lambon-Quayefio, 2021). There are also various physical challenges that
impacts children such as malnutrition, minor and major diseases.

Contributors to child labour practices
Although there are several legal restrictions that have been imposed in order to promote child
labour restrictions but the constant increase in the cases of child labour is a reflection of the
incompetent and ineffective regulation of these particular legal frameworks within the labour
environment (Gorman, 2021).
The lack of attention given towards the child labour practices by international firms also adds up
to the increase of child labour.
Positive Considerations of Child Labour
It might sound extremely strange but there have been arguments that favour child labour within
certain given circumstances. The fact that individuals focus so much upon the negative and
pessimistic approach to child labour that they tend to forget the value generated by the same
among the lives of unprivileged individuals. The reason for the same can be stated as the
positive outcomes that can be derived for children which are serving within the industry in order
to eradicate their existing poverty and hope for a better future. There are certain industries
wherein utilisation of child employment can positively impact upon the lives and future of
children in a good manner. There are certain sections of society wherein the development
opportunities are very limited (Olarreaga, Saiovici and Ugarte, 2020). Hence, in order to grow as
an individual and elevate the standard of living, children are compelled to choose this way of life
so as to move towards a stable future.
Negative Impact of Child Labour
The negative implication associated with the child labour practices surpasses the optimistic
considerations provided in the favour of the same. It can be said severely complex and tough
working environment and conditions within the supply chain industry impacts upon the physical
as well as mental well-being of innocent children (Sundjo, 2020). It has been examined that
children who are exposed to child labour at a very young age end up becoming vulnerable,
depressed, anxious, stressed etc. In the supply chain industry, the work process is very hectic and
tough. Indulgence of minor children within such practises impacts upon their health in an
adverse manner. The safety and security of children is also compromised under such
circumstances as well.

Impact of Partial or Permanent ban of child labour
The partial or permanent ban on the child labour can create and set a very impactful message
within the society. The child labour tends to result into lower wages within the market and also
decides the employment opportunities for adults (El Wali, Golroudbary and Kraslawski, 2021).
The proposed ban might decrease the growth rate of economy. The business organisations that
facilitate their operation through the optimisation of young children will be affected whereas
institutions that prohibited the exploitation of children will promote the ban.
Potential solutions to child labour
According to my perspective, I believe that regulation of child labour laws needs to be more
stricter within the supply chain industry, the legal bodies should be more focused towards
aligning major monitoring operations within such industries so as to ensure that they are able to
extract innocent children who are not willing to do harmful operations but are forcefully
indulged within the same. Rehabilitation and health centres should be dedicated towards the
upliftment of the children who have been caught in such hideous working conditions in order
help them cope up from the intense trauma. Growth and development schemes should be
promoted within leas developed countries in order to educate children and their parents about the
negative influence of child labour on their lives (Hardy, Bhakoo and Maguire, 2020).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be derived that child labour has ruined the childhood of
millions of deprived children all across the world. There may be certain benefits associated with
child employment but those benefits cannot overtake upon the history of child labour and its
impact upon the innocent lives. It can be said that ban on child labour practises will be a stepping
stone towards facilitating a healthy and safe future for children in upcoming run.

References
Books and Journal
Sadler Lawrence, L., 2020. The Spoiled Supply Chain of Child Labor. The Palgrave
International Handbook of Human Trafficking, pp.371-382.
Trinh, T.A., 2020. Mental health impacts of child labour: evidence from Vietnam and India. The
Journal of Development Studies, 56(12), pp.2251-2265.
Olarreaga, M., Saiovici, G. and Ugarte, C., 2020. Child Labour and Global Value Chains.
Sundjo, F., 2020. Implications of Child Labour Earnings for Household Well-Being in
Cameroon. In Child Labor in the Developing World (pp. 193-225). Palgrave Macmillan,
Singapore.
Lambon-Quayefio, M.P., 2021. The Challenges of Child Labour Research: Data Challenges and
Opportunities.
Gorman, C., 2021. Exposing the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Bangladesh’s Leather Sector.
El Wali, M., Golroudbary, S.R. and Kraslawski, A., 2021. Circular economy for phosphorus
supply chain and its impact on social sustainable development goals. Science of The Total
Environment, 777, p.146060.
Hardy, C., Bhakoo, V. and Maguire, S., 2020. A new methodology for supply chain
management: Discourse analysis and its potential for theoretical advancement. Journal of Supply
Chain Management, 56(2), pp.19-35.