Background
Importation of products made with forced,
or indentured child, labour is prohibited by law. Studies indicate
that child labour is endemic in much of the developing world, and
can be found in many industries, for example, hand-knotted carpets,
apparel, footwear, brassware, silk, glassware, bricks, furniture,
food-processing, gem polishing, leather tanning, and small-scale
mining.
Recently, the U.S. Customs Service and
the Department of Labor launched an investigation to determine whether
firecrackers and other goods made with forced child labour in China
are being imported into the United States in violation of U.S. law.
Preferential tariffs/quotas and labour
practices are now closely linked. For instance, in 2002, Cambodia's
tariff quotas were increased by the EU
by 9% as a result of improved labour
practices.
How can we help?
- Forced and indentured
child labour under penal sanction
is a serious issue for the trading community. There is a growing
concern among consumers that goods
they buy should be produced in
conditions that are safe
and decent and which enable working
people to maintain their dignity
and a reasonable standard of living. Companies are responding
by
drawing up codes of conduct. For
example, in the US up to 85% of large companies
now have codes of conduct.
- Due to our working knowledge of the
relevant trade and customs
regulations, we are well placed to
provide assistance in key areas of a sustainability
audit; and the development of an
ethical supply chain.
|
