2. THE CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Section 2.3d - Child Labour
Principles
2.3d.P.1
The company does not exploit children as workers.
2.3d.P.2
The company guarantees that neither it nor its contractors employ children
in conditions that violate the rights of the child.
2.3d.P.3
The company:
- does not interfere with the right of a child to an education
- agrees to abide by minimum age requirements for admission of children to employment as stated in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child
- accepts appropriate regulation of hours and conditions regarding
- employment of children
- safeguards the health, safety and morals of child workers.
2.3d.P.4
The company does not employ persons under the age of majority as a means of
avoiding the payment of the full adult wage for doing the same work.
Criteria
2.3d.C.1
The company does not employ, in a full-time capacity, in its own workplaces
or in that of its subsidiaries and suppliers, any child under the age of completion
of compulsory schooling and, in any case, less than the age of 15 years. In
countries where the economy and educational facilities are insufficiently
developed, companies may, after consultation with the young workers, worker
associations, and organizations concerned with children's rights, labour rights
and human rights, initially specify a minimum age of 14 years.
2.3d.C.2
The company, when it has taken advantage of the above exception to 14 years,
has made a specific public declaration of the reasons for this exception and
has determined a date by which it will cease to avail itself of the provisions
of this policy.
2.3d.C.3
The company works with organizations concerned with children's rights, human
rights and labour rights and within the country of production to ensure that
young workers are not exploited.
2.3d.C.4
The company has a precise statement regarding the employment of children and
young people. This policy is publicly available throughout the company and
its suppliers in the languages of any and all workers. It is clearly communicated
to all employees in a manner, which can be understood, and includes verbal
communications for employees lacking adequate reading skills.
2.3d.C.5
The company has a clearly stated policy and monitoring programme in regard
to the employment of children.
Bench Marks
2.3d.B.1
The company has in place a monitoring and auditing programme to ensure compliance
with its corporate code of conduct. This programme includes internal monitoring
and auditing and well as independent monitoring.
2.3d.B.2
The company has a precise standard of recording and measurement in place,
which enables it to monitor the significance of all exceptions to the pattern
of child employment below the age of 15 years. In addition, the company has
a precise standard and measurement of any exposure to a potentially hazardous
environment for anyone aged 18 or below. These records are available for public
scrutiny, especially by those groups responsible for human rights, labour
rights and children's rights.
2.3d.B.3
If monitoring reveals that children are being exploited, immediate steps are
taken to rectify the practice and to provide for the rehabilitation of the
children involved. The company does not solve the problem by the dismissal
of the children affected.
2.3d.B.4
The company regularly consults with country-specific knowledgeable organizations
regarding programmes and practices to remove children from work sites and
re-integrate them into home, school and community.