Maplecroft’s annual child labour index was released today. It draws attention to the ethical and reputational risks that business face from the use of child labour in their supply chains.
The index’s key findings were that:
- During the last year there has been a 10% rise in the number of countries categorised as posing ‘extreme risks’ to the welfare of children from underage working practices
- This meant that a total 76 countries, out of 197, classified were classified as ‘extreme risk’, up from 68 countries last year
- Worst performing countries included: Myanmar, Sudan, DR Congo, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Ethiopia
- Child labour risks in the UK have increased with the country moving up 12 places from last year to 142 within the medium risk category – worse than France and Germany
- Philippines (25), India (27), China (36), Indonesia (46), Brazil (54) rated ‘extreme risk,’ posing supply chain risks for companies
The reasons given for the increase include deteriorating security conditions (that can displace and impoverish families and thereby force them to use their children to generate income) and the global economic downturn.
The report was covered in The Huffington Post, in The Independent and by The Press Association.
Maplecroft works extensively with business worldwide to help them develop ethical supply chain policies in order to reduce the risk of becoming implicated in the exploitation of children.
For information on this report, see here:
http://maplecroft.com/about/news/child_labour_2012.html
For more information on how Maplecroft works with companies to help them adopt ethical supply chain practices, see here:
http://maplecroft.com/services/ethical_supply_chain/
