Developed countries biggest users of child labor in supply chains: Expert

BERLIN/ANKARA (AA) – Child labor has increased in the supply chains of developed countries and blocs such as the European Union, the US, Canada, Japan, Norway and Switzerland, especially due to cruel and illegal business models of corporations, an expert said on World Children’s Day.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, human rights activist, journalist, political consultant and social entrepreneur Fernando Morales-de la Cruz said there are more than 300 million working children around the world despite children’s rights being considered within the scope of human rights.

He said the increase of child labor in the supply chains was due to an increase in the types and volumes of products produced by countries in the Global South, but especially due to cruel and illegal business models of corporations.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic also led to an increase in child labor.

“Even the luxury brands and the gold and the diamonds in jewelry are tainted with child labor. The child labor problem is not only present in cheap products.”

Morales-de la Cruz stressed that corporations were paying the producers a fraction of the real cost of the products.

According to a report published on Sept. 14 this year by the University of Zurich, there are more than 373 million children globally now who work instead of play. This puts them third worldwide in terms of population after China and India.

According to official figures, around one out of every 10 children worldwide works as a child laborer, with the percentage rising to one out of every five children in developing nations. Some of these children work in dangerous jobs that could harm their health, safety and morals.