New Department of Labor report unveils findings on the worst forms of child labor

The US Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs released a new report on its findings of the worst forms of child labor from 2022.

The findings show only four countries out of 131 made significant advancements to reduce child labor by way of ILAB's criteria, including mitigation efforts such as legal frameworks, enforcement, coordination, policies, and social programs

Supply chain ESG risk data supports findings from the Department of Labor, where at least 43 countries show high or extreme for child labor instances. These findings reflect the severity of violations uncovered during onsite assessments in these countries, integrating trusted civil society data and news media findings to illustrate the inherent risk exposure of these regions.

In fact, our media-scanning tool which scrapes news outlets and other media sites for ESG-related incidents uncovered more than 50 child labor-related incidents in 2022 alone, with more than 60 uncovered already in 2023.

With at least 160 million children reported to be in situations of forced labor as of 2021 estimates, mitigation efforts must be increased from every country, business, and entity.

Are regulations even effective?

While new laws are being implemented across the world to mitigate forced labor and child labor risks in supply chains, the US Department of Labor report showed that 25% of its suggested actions for child labor findings were related to deficiencies in laws and regulations.

Even where regulations are present, the gaps of enforcing laws were identified as the largest category of recommended actions from the Department of Labor.

Stay up to date with supply chain de diligence regulations with our interactive map.

Why this gap? The DoL data suggests that lack of information is a key issue, as many countries are not collecting or publishing data on child labor law enforcement. While governing bodies hold a broader responsibility to ensure this data is collated and reported, businesses and their supply chains ultimately will be responsible for implementing this due diligence as regulations are mandated.

Climate change and the need for transition pathways

The world is heating up at an alarming rate, and we are all at risk of the repercussions and impact of global warming. The Dept of Labor report also shows climate change could even be driving more children into forced labor. To prevent further consequences, businesses must prioritize transitions to more sustainable operations.

"A just transition means that no people, workers, sectors, or countries should be forgotten in the move from high carbon use to low carbon use economies. Our clean-energy future cannot be built on the backs of children and adults in exploitative labor conditions." US Department of Labor

A "just transition" refers to transition pathways, which are frameworks for companies transitioning to more sustainable and responsible practices. Transition pathways can encompass the transition to better overall Environmental, Sustainable, and Governance (ESG) strategies, but are primarily referred to in the context of the "E" and in discussions on carbon reduction and energy transitions.

Read more on how to get started on your transition pathway.

In case you missed it...

Seven weeks to COP28: What to watch out for

We are seven weeks out from the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28, which will be held in Dubai beginning November 30.

Controversy surrounds the event, as the United Arab Emirates' host Sultan al-Jaber is facing criticism for his position as the chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. "More than 100 members of the European parliament and US Congress wrote to the UN in May to urge that Jaber be replaced, arguing that his role would enable fossil fuel companies to ‘exert undue influence’ on climate negotiations," according to a Financial Times report.

Nonetheless, the conference is expected to cover critical and timely topics, including emissions targets, decarbonization, financial aid for underdeveloped countries, and the urgent need to prevent further warming.

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