Farmforce Enables Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS)

Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines child labour as “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.” Child labour can take many forms, including forced labour, bonded labour, and trafficking.

The problem of child labour in supply chains is complex and difficult to address, as it involves multiple actors and can occur in different stages of the supply chain. Using Farmforce’s IMS and GMS systems, companies can monitor, evaluate and run a myriad of surveys to address the needs of a particular crop, product, or value chain.

At Farmforce, we focus on “Tackling The First Mile.” As such, we take great pride in collaborating with NGOs, MNCs, and other stakeholders to maintain and certify child labour-free goods. The toughest sustainability challenges happen in the first mile. Farmforce provides the required visibility and enables users to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Child Labour, by allowing appropriate surveys from the Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS). With the Farmforce survey module, users can capture and analyse data to identify & follow up on remediation activities.

How Common is Child Labour?

According to the ILO, agriculture has the highest incidence of child labour, accounting for 71% of child labour worldwide.

In cocoa farming, an estimated 1.56 million children in West Africa are involved in child labour.

The Ethical Tea Partnership found that child labour was prevalent in the tea gardens of Assam, India, with an estimated 24,000 children working in the sector.

The United States Department of Labor’s 2020 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor includes several agricultural products, including cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, coffee, and cocoa. 

The Causes

• Lack of Education Infrastructure: According to the ILO, there is a strong correlation between low levels of education and child labour.
• Cultural Beliefs and Local Economy: In some communities, there are cultural beliefs that children should work to contribute to the family’s income or learn a trade. In many instances, families rely on income from all family members.
• Conflict and Crisis: In areas affected by conflict, natural disasters, or other crises, children are often forced into labour as a means of survival.

The Solutions

Traceability and digitalisation of the first mile of the supply chain can help combat child labour in a few ways:

• Increased Transparency: By tracing the first mile of the supply chain, companies can better understand where their products are coming from and identify any potential risks for child labour. Companies that work with Farmforce can then take proactive steps to prevent child labour.
• Improved Monitoring: Digital tools can monitor labour conditions in the first mile of the supply chain. For example, workers with mobile devices can report labour abuses, allowing companies to detect and respond to child labour more quickly and effectively.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Digital platforms can facilitate collaboration between companies, suppliers, and other stakeholders. By sharing information and working together, companies can address child labour’s root causes in the supply chain’s first mile and develop sustainable solutions.
• Increased Accountability: By tracking the first mile of the supply chain, companies can hold suppliers accountable for any labour abuses, including child labour. 

Farmforce operates within various supply chains and facilitates certifications and audits with ease. Those in the agricultural sector that already operate child labour-free can ensure brand transparency and trustworthiness, not only with consumers but with regulatory agencies as well.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to shed light on a few important organisations which combat child labour in many ways:

• International Cocoa Initiative
• Global March Against Child Labour
• Save the Children
• Anti-Slavery International