Child Labor and Corporate Responsibility: The Need for a Stakeholder Approach.
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Introduction.
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Child Labor:
Definition and Characteristics
Child labor is generally
defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and
dignity, and is harmful to their physical and mental development.
Child labor, as defined
by the international labor Organization (2017), is work that robs children of
their childhood, their potential, and their dignity and is detrimental to their
physical and mental development. It encompasses labor that is harmful to
children in terms of their mental, physical, social, or moral development as
well as work that obstructs their academic progress. Long hours, meagre pay,
and hazardous working conditions are frequent occurrences. There are over 152
million child laborers worldwide, most of whom work in agriculture, followed by
services, industry, and other sectors, according to the international labor Organization (ILO) (ILO, 2020).
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Child labor in
codes of conduct.
Many MNCs have developed
codes of conduct prohibiting the use of child labor in their operations and
supply chains. These codes require suppliers and contractors to comply with
national laws and regulations on child labor and to provide safe and healthy working
conditions for workers, including children (International Labor Organization,
2018). Some codes require providers to provide children with education and
training opportunities and to monitor their compliance with the code.
The International Business
Code developed by the International Chamber of Commerce states that companies
"prohibit child labor and respect the minimum age of entry into
employment" (ICC, 2021). Companies are asked to ensure that children are
not employed in hazardous work and that their working hours do not interfere
with their education.
The Code states that
companies "must not use child labour except for light work under certain
conditions" (AKS, 2021). The AKS requires companies to ensure that child
laborers receive appropriate education and are not exposed to hazardous working
conditions.
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Similarly, the Ans Kolk Code of
Stakeholders emphasizes the importance of respecting children's rights and
prohibiting the use of child labor.
The effectiveness of
codes of conduct to prevent child labor is debated. Some argue that these
codes provide a framework for companies to address the issue of child labor and promote corporate social responsibility. Others argue that codes of conduct
are merely a public relations tool and do not address the root causes of child labor (Kolk, 2016).
To ensure compliance with
codes of conduct and prevent the use of child labor, MNCs must establish
accountability mechanisms in their human resource management practices. These
mechanisms include auditing, monitoring, and reporting systems that track
compliance with the code and identify areas for improvement (International Labor Organization, 2018). MNCs may also engage in capacity-building efforts
to educate suppliers and contractors on child labor issues and promote
responsible business practices.
Kolk's Stakeholder Codes and Accountability in Human Resource
Management.
Kolk argues that codes of
conduct and accountability mechanisms are necessary but insufficient for
addressing the issue of child labor. She proposes a stakeholder approach to
corporate social responsibility, in which MNCs engage with various
stakeholders, including NGOs, labor unions, and local communities, to identify
and address the root causes of child labor (Kolk, 2016). Kolk suggests that
MNCs should collaborate with stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that
improve the lives of children and promote economic development in the communities
where they operate.
Conclusions.
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Multinational
corporations (MNCs) have developed codes of conduct prohibiting the use of
child labor in their operations and supply chains, which require suppliers and
contractors to comply with national laws and regulations on child labor and to
provide safe and healthy working conditions for workers, including children.
However, the effectiveness of these codes of conduct is debated. MNCs should
establish accountability mechanisms in their human resource management
practices to ensure compliance with the Code and prevent the use of child labor. In addition, a stakeholder approach to CSR is proposed in which MNCs
engage with various stakeholders to identify and address the root causes of
child labor. Collaboration with stakeholders can lead to sustainable solutions
that improve the lives of children and promote economic development in the
communities where MNCs operate. Addressing the issue of child labor through a
multilateral approach is essential to ensure that children's rights are
respected and their capacities and dignity are protected.
References: -
International Labour Organization. (2017). Child
labour. [Online] Available at: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/child-labour/lang--en/index.htm
[Accessed on 18th April 2023]
International Labour Organization. (2020). Child
Labour. Retrieved from [Online] Available at: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/child-labour/lang--en/index.htm[Accessed
on 18th April 2023]
International Labour Organization. (2018). Child
labour and supply chains: A survey of corporate social responsibility (CSR)
practices. [Online] Available at: https://www.ilo.org/ipec/Action/CSR/lang--en/index.htm[Accessed
on 18th April 2023]
International Chamber of Commerce. (2021). International
Business Code. [Online] Available at:
https://iccwbo.org/content/uploads/sites/3/2017/03/ICC-International-Business-C[Accessed
on 18th April 2023]
Ans Kolk Stakeholder Code. (2021). Global Reporting
Initiative. [Online] Available at: https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/gri-306-child-labour-2021/[Accessed
on 18th April 2023]
Kolk, A. (2016). The social responsibility of
international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable
development. Journal of World Business, 51 [Online] Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090951615000632[Accessed
on 18th April 2023]
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Available at : https://www.google.com/search?q=The+necessity+for+accountability+measures+in+human+resource+management+and+the+ethical+prohibition+of+child+labour.&rlz=1C1GCEU_enLK1021LK1021&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju0qPV9bP-AhXN3TgGHaykCYsQ_AUoA3oECAEQBQ&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25#imgrc=DDMbVLMD8wVWYM&imgdii=gggf1HOXzV8iFM[Accessed
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Video 1 Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCQNytI_nMM
[Accessed on 18th April 2023]
Codes of conduct are a step in the right direction, but child labor remains a pervasive problem. To truly address this issue, multinational corporations must prioritize accountability and stakeholder collaboration to identify and address the root causes of child labor. Nicely written article.
ReplyDeleteDear Kalani. The presence of codes of conduct is a positive development, but child labor still exists. To effectively combat the problem, MNCs must prioritize accountability and collaboration with stakeholders to address underlying issues. This requires a concerted effort to identify and address the root causes of child labour. Thank you very much Kalani.
DeleteThis is one of the major issues facing the world now, and after reading numerous articles, I can say as follows:
ReplyDeleteUnderage labor, or the exploitation of children, appears remote to the majority of multinational corporations. Although every business leader is familiar with the accounts of the young girls and women who worked in the shoe factories in the late 1990s, relatively few organizations are aware that these conditions are probably still present in their own supply chains today. The truth is that child labor occurs throughout a wide range of modern products, not just in the well-known industries of agriculture and cocoa manufacturing. It's a heartbreaking issue in the cobalt mines, where exponential expansion is causing agony to continue. Cobalt is a necessary raw element for the lithium-ion batteries that power all of our smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles.
Dear Tharanga,
DeleteChild labor is a prevalent issue in modern supply chains, with many multinational corporations remaining unaware of its presence. Despite being associated with industries like agriculture and cocoa manufacturing, child labor occurs across a broad range of products, including those that are essential to modern technology, such as cobalt used in lithium-ion batteries for smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles.
Thank you very much.
Child labour is a complex issue that requires collaborative effort from all stakeholders. Companies have a responsibility to respect human rights, including the rights of children, and can play an important role in preventing child labour in their support chains. A stakeholder approach to addressing child labour recognizes the needs for collaboration and engagement across all sectors, and is essential for achieving lasting change. Good article. Well done.
ReplyDeleteCompanies have a duty to respect human rights, including children's rights, and can help prevent child labor in their supply chains. Lasting change requires a stakeholder approach involving all sectors. Collaboration and engagement are key to effectively solving this problem . Thank you very much .
DeleteHi Chrishan , Very important article and you have covered entire area.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the stakeholder approach, a company has responsibility to its owners as well as to a number of other parties, including its partners in business, customers, employees, and governmental and non-governmental organizations. A larger picture of CSR is provided by the social approach.
The stakeholder approach suggests that a company is responsible to its owners, business partners, customers, employees, and other organizations. This view is broader in the social approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR). In this approach, a company has a wider responsibility to society beyond its stakeholders, including environmental protection and social justice. Thank you very much.
DeleteThe article "Child Labor and Corporate Responsibility: The Need for a Stakeholder Approach" argues that companies have a responsibility to prevent and address child labor in their supply chains and operations, and that this responsibility extends to all stakeholders who are affected by the company's activities. A stakeholder approach emphasizes the importance of engaging with and addressing the concerns of all stakeholders, rather than prioritizing the interests of shareholders alone. By adopting a stakeholder approach to corporate responsibility, companies can help prevent child labor and promote ethical and sustainable business practices that benefit both their bottom line and society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteVery interested article. well done !
It argues that companies have a responsibility to prevent and address child labor in their supply chains and operations, and this responsibility extends to all stakeholders affected by the company's activities. By adopting a stakeholder approach to corporate responsibility, companies can prevent child labor and promote ethical and sustainable business practices that benefit their bottom lines and society. Thank you very much..!!
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ReplyDeleteOne issue that may be relevant to IHRM and child labor is the exploitation of child labor in the supply chain. Studies have documented the involvement of child labor in global supply chains, particularly in developing countries where labor laws and regulations are not strictly enforced. Multinational companies have been implicated in the use of child labor in their supply chains, such as Nike, Nestle, and H&M. IHRM can play a crucial role in addressing child labor issues in the supply chain by developing policies and procedures for due diligence and monitoring of suppliers' labor practices. They can also engage in ethical sourcing practices and collaborate with other stakeholders to promote better working conditions and the elimination of child labor in the supply chain.
Nice article Chrishan.Good luck !!!
Dear Kamal.
DeleteThank you for the feedback!
To summarize, child labor exploitation in the global supply chain is a relevant issue for IHRM. Developing countries with lax labor regulations are particularly susceptible, with multinational companies like Nike, Nestle, and H&M implicated. IHRM can address this issue through due diligence, monitoring, ethical sourcing, and collaboration with stakeholders to eliminate child labor in the supply chain.
The term “child labor” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful to children, but we can not stop this and will continue? sensitive article and gathered the required materials nicely, well done.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to recognize that child labor is a serious issue that can have detrimental effects on children's physical, mental, social, and moral well-being, depriving them of their childhood and potential. However, it is not acceptable to continue allowing child labor to occur. It is necessary to take action and work towards eradicating it in order to ensure that all children can enjoy their rights and develop to their full potential. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteReally a sensitive topic & you have described everything very attractively.Underage child labor is a very shameful act and several organizations around the world have intervened to protect children from this. International Labour Organization (ILO)/UNICEF/Child Labor Coalition acting major roll of this. but it is still spreading rapidly around the world.
ReplyDeleteDear Anton.
DeleteUnderage child labor is a shameful act and several organizations like ILO, UNICEF, and Child Labor Coalition are working to protect children from it. However, it continues to spread rapidly around the world despite intervention. Thank you very much.
The article highlights the debate surrounding the effectiveness of codes of conduct developed by multinational corporations to prohibit child labor in their operations and supply chains. It argues that MNCs should establish accountability mechanisms to ensure compliance with the codes and engage with stakeholders to address the root causes of child labor. The article emphasizes the need for a multilateral approach to address the issue of child labor, which is essential to protect the rights and dignity of children and promote economic development in the communities where MNCs operate. Overall, the article provides a valuable perspective on the importance of CSR and stakeholder engagement in addressing social and ethical issues faced by MNCs. Well done!!!
ReplyDeleteThe debate on MNC codes of conduct to prevent child labour, proposing accountability mechanisms and stakeholder engagement to address root causes is discussed. Protecting children's rights, dignity and promoting economic development requires a multilateral approach. Thank you very much.
Deletevery attractive and uncommon article, you did great job here and explain everything deeply, very interesting to reading, also Once engaged in child labor, children are often unable to return to school or continue their education. In many cases, employers actively prohibit children from attending school, while in others, the long hours demanded by employers make schooling practically impossible. great work,,,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliment on the article. Child labor is a significant issue as it often prevents children from receiving an education. Employers may forbid or make it difficult for children to attend school due to long working hours.
DeleteChild labor is a problem that needs to be addressed with the laws in place in most countries it is contained but there are placeses in the world where lawlessness and war have put children at risk. A child needs to be free to grow and stealing the freedom of a child to grow to be a productive citizen is in its self a loss to the world we live.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much George.
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