There are more than 240 million children worldwide who are victims of child labor, according to a report by UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.
There are children and young people who help with household chores, help with the family business or work after school to earn a little money, but these types of activities are not considered child labor.
Child labor is work that "deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and is harmful to their physical and psychological development," as defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO).
In 2021, child labor increased worldwide for first time in two decades, according to the same organizations. The increases are concentrated in Africa, which has more children working than all the rest of the world, as well as the Arab States and the Europe and Central Asia area, according to the report by the UN agencies. 79 million children are "engaged in hazardous work" that directly jeopardizes their health.
The ILO/UNICEF study further underlines that these children "were engaged in hazardous work that directly jeopardized their health, safety and moral development". The UN agencies stress that child labor in families "is often hazardous, despite the widespread perception that the family provides a safer working environment."
This is the current picture of child labor, but it is not an inevitable one, as seen in countries that have made and continue to make progress. There are recipes that work, such as investment in education, decent work for adults and greater security in international production chains.
"The elimination of child labor is too big an undertaking for any one party to solve alone," warns the ILO/UNICEF report, which calls for "countries to join forces in the spirit of Article 8 of ILO Convention 182" on the prohibition of the worst forms of child labor, "universally ratified". Countries, such as Spain, have also committed to this in numerous international agreements, such as Agenda 2030, which aims to end child labor by 2025.
GoodWeave International
GoodWeave International is a network of non-profit organizations dedicated to ending illegal child labor in the carpet manufacturing industry. Founded in 1994 by Kailash Satyarthi , children's rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, it offers a certification program that allows companies that pass inspection to attach a logo certifying that their product is made without child labor.
It’s a shining example of a product-oriented multi-stakeholder governance group. Partnering with GoodWeave ensures that all operations of companies and organizations within the Nepal Network are free of child labor.
In its efforts, GoodWeave has saved over 6,700 children from labor, provided quality education to almost 26,000 rescued and vulnerable children, and prevented hundreds of thousands of children from entering labor.
The manufacture of handmade floor coverings is very labor-intensive and at CommonShare, we believe that companies have a moral obligation to make sure that everyone involved is treated well and that no children are involved in our production. GoodWeave was founded in 1994 by Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi and his international organization has worked tirelessly to eradicate child labor from production through its unique labeling system, which includes independent and unannounced inspections, controls and certifications of producers. The group was recognized in 2014 with the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to bring children back to their childhood, so they can laugh, learn and play. GoodWeave also provides educational opportunities for children in weaving communities and works to ensure fair treatment for adult rug weavers. Partner with GoodWeave International, to ensure that your supply chain operations are free of child labor.