“But isn’t child labour just part of the culture there?”

That’s a question I’ve been asked more times than I can count—often by well-meaning professionals who feel uncomfortable imposing “Western” values on suppliers in other parts of the world.

Poverty is not a tradition

I understand where it comes from. But each time, my answer is the same: No, we shouldn’t accept child labour as a cultural norm, because it’s not culture, it’s poverty. And poverty is not a tradition anyone wants to preserve. Many parents simply don’t see another way. They want better lives for their children, but feel trapped.

The good news

I first started working on child labour over 20 years ago, with the ILO in Asia. Back then, the numbers were staggering: 246 million children. The latest ILO/UNICEF estimate is 138 million, a huge drop, a real sign of progress. But we’re far from done.

The bad news

Here’s what still deeply concerns me:

• We’re not on track to meet the global goal of ending child labour by 2025—not even close.
• 54 million children are in hazardous work, some in slave-like conditions.
• Nearly 80 million are under 12.

What can companies do about it?

I know that no company wants child labour in its supply chain. But intentions alone aren’t enough. Too often, companies stop at a clause in the code of conduct and hope their suppliers comply. Meanwhile, child labour is hidden deeper in the chain, on small farms, in informal mines, in unregulated factories. Especially in food production and raw materials.

That’s why when companies find child labour in their supply chain, it’s not just a compliance issue. It’s a moment of choice: will you look away, or will you help build that better future?

I know companies can’t fix this alone. But they can play a vital role. Here’s where to start:

1. Based on public information it is not difficult to know which countries are at high risk of child labour (all countries in sub-saharan Africa and India, Bangladesh and Vietnam)
2. Look beyond the first tier to discover, which parts of the supply chain have the highest risk of child labour? The parts that are in farming, fishing and lifestock in high risk countries. THe parts that are in restaurants and tourism in high risk countries. The parts that are in small-scale mining and factories.
3. Work together with NGOs and companies in the supply chain to identify the hotspots. It is very hard to do this alone.

No quick fix

Once child labourt is detected, the real work starts part starts and that is to mitigate child labour in situations where the company often has little leverage. There is no instant solution, a quick fix, but that doens’t mean you can’t make a difference. Support your suppliers. Build trust. Invest in long-term change. Be transparent.

A real contribution

In my experience, tackling child labour is not just good for business—it’s deeply human work. It challenges you. It connects you. And when done with care and commitment, it’s one of the most meaningful contributions your company can make.

Solution

If you need to to identify child labour, or if you suspect it is there, please get in touch. My over 20 years of experience, including with child labour, will help you find a solution.