Understanding child labour risks in supply chains of Swiss enterprises

Following the latest report by ILO and UNICEF, child labour remains a persistent problem in the world today. The latest global estimates indicate that 160 million children were in child labour globally at the beginning of 2020, accounting for almost 1 in 10 of all children worldwide. Nearly half of them were in hazardous work that directly endangers their health, safety and moral development.

Many of those working children are engaged somewhere in global supply chains of companies producing all sorts of goods and services. Therefore, companies have a key role to play to identify child labour risks related to their operations and take action to prevent and end child labour. Furthermore, according to new Swiss legislation which could come into force next year, some companies will be required to assess their child labour risks and carry out due diligence.

But what exactly is child labour and why and where does it take place? How might child labour look like in different industries, and how can a company identify child labour risks in their supply chains?

This webinar organized by the Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein in the context of the Swiss National Action plan on Business and Human rights will introduce the issue of child labour in global supply chains and showcase which goods and services present a high risk of the use of child labour in their making. It will also provide insights on how to identify child labour in the supply chains.

Agenda:

Why is Child Labour relevant for Swiss enterprises?

Valérie Berset Bircher, Ambassador, Head of International Labour Affairs at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)

What is child labour, why and where does it occur?

Monika Althaus, Senior Manager Children's Rights and Business at UNICEF Switzerland & Liechtenstein

How can companies identify child labour risks in their supply chains?

Sibylle Baumgartner & Matthias Leisinger, Founders & co-directors at focusright

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