FAB-D.01.B - Child Labour Remediation Programme Participation
Does the company describe how it develops, participates in or contributes to child labour remediation programmes?
About the data
The WBA Food and Agriculture Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential food and agriculture companies on their efforts to transform global food systems, tracking how companies work towards food that is healthy and nutritious, produced sustainably within planetary boundaries, and accessible and fairly produced for all. The 2026 edition assessed 350 companies spanning the entirety of the food and agriculture value chain, from agricultural inputs and commodities through to manufacturing, retail, and food service. Companies were scored on 23 food and agriculture-specific indicators and 18 core social indicators across four measurement areas: governance, sustainable food systems, healthy food systems, and inclusive food systems. The benchmark is developed in close collaboration with an Expert Review Committee and is designed to incentivise the most influential companies in the sector to adopt sustainable business practices across their own operations and supply chains, addressing critical issues including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, freshwater use, nutrition, and living incomes for farmers, with human rights and social equity at its core. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Worldwide, 70% of child labour occurs in agriculture, affecting 112 million children, with
three-quarters being under the age of 11. A significant 72% of this takes place on small-scale family
farms, and half of all children in child labour engage in hazardous work posing severe risks to their
safety and development (ILO and UNICEF, 2021). Child labour not only deprives children of their rights
to education and development but also perpetuates cycles of poverty, limiting future societal growth
and sustainable development. Companies, particularly those operating in global supply chains, bear
the responsibility to ensure that their operations do not contribute to or benefit from child labour.
Research Guidance:
The company must describe how it develops, participates in or contributes to child labour remediation programmes for transition from employment to education, enabling children to attend and remain in education, if and when child labour is found in its operations and how it improves working conditions for young workers where relevant.
The company should describe at least one of the following actions:
Transition from Employment to Education: The company describes how it ensures that, when child labour is found, children are transitioned from employment into education programs.
Enabling Children to Attend and Remain in Education: The company must demonstrate efforts to enable children to attend and remain in education, providing long-term support to ensure children do not return to work.
Improving Working Conditions for Young Workers: If the company employs young workers, it must show how it improves working conditions for them, ensuring that they are not engaged in hazardous work and are protected in line with international standards.
Having remediation programmes in compliance with: [Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems ](https://www.cocoainitiative.org/our-work/operational-support/child-labour-monitoring-and-remediation-systems)(CLMRS) OR Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit ([SMETA](https://www.sedex.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SMETA-6.1-Measurement-Criteria.pdf)) (pg. 37-40)
three-quarters being under the age of 11. A significant 72% of this takes place on small-scale family
farms, and half of all children in child labour engage in hazardous work posing severe risks to their
safety and development (ILO and UNICEF, 2021). Child labour not only deprives children of their rights
to education and development but also perpetuates cycles of poverty, limiting future societal growth
and sustainable development. Companies, particularly those operating in global supply chains, bear
the responsibility to ensure that their operations do not contribute to or benefit from child labour.
Research Guidance:
The company must describe how it develops, participates in or contributes to child labour remediation programmes for transition from employment to education, enabling children to attend and remain in education, if and when child labour is found in its operations and how it improves working conditions for young workers where relevant.
The company should describe at least one of the following actions:
Transition from Employment to Education: The company describes how it ensures that, when child labour is found, children are transitioned from employment into education programs.
Enabling Children to Attend and Remain in Education: The company must demonstrate efforts to enable children to attend and remain in education, providing long-term support to ensure children do not return to work.
Improving Working Conditions for Young Workers: If the company employs young workers, it must show how it improves working conditions for them, ensuring that they are not engaged in hazardous work and are protected in line with international standards.
Having remediation programmes in compliance with: [Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems ](https://www.cocoainitiative.org/our-work/operational-support/child-labour-monitoring-and-remediation-systems)(CLMRS) OR Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit ([SMETA](https://www.sedex.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SMETA-6.1-Measurement-Criteria.pdf)) (pg. 37-40)
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report