FAB-D.01.E - Child Labour Supply Chain Progress
Does the company demonstrate progress towards eliminating child labour in its supply chain?
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 provide quantitative data on child labour in its supply chain and show a trend of improvement over time. The data should be clear, comparable, and demonstrate progress toward eliminating child labour.
**Quantitative Data**
Types of quantitative data could include:
Percentage of supplier audits where child labour issues were detected
Percentage of suppliers audited in compliance with child labour provisions
Number of incidents related to child labour
**Progress**
To fully meet the element, the data disclosed must be comparable across at least two reporting periods and demonstrate progress. This could include:
Showing a reduction in the number or percentage of incidents where child labour is detected.
Demonstrating an increase in the percentage of suppliers that are in compliance with child labour standards.
Tracking improvements over multiple years to clearly show how the company‚s efforts are making an impact.
It is not sufficient if:
The company only provides data for a single point in time without showing comparisons or trends.
The data is not connected to a clear analysis of progress or does not indicate measurable improvement in child labour issues
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 provide quantitative data on child labour in its supply chain and show a trend of improvement over time. The data should be clear, comparable, and demonstrate progress toward eliminating child labour.
**Quantitative Data**
Types of quantitative data could include:
Percentage of supplier audits where child labour issues were detected
Percentage of suppliers audited in compliance with child labour provisions
Number of incidents related to child labour
**Progress**
To fully meet the element, the data disclosed must be comparable across at least two reporting periods and demonstrate progress. This could include:
Showing a reduction in the number or percentage of incidents where child labour is detected.
Demonstrating an increase in the percentage of suppliers that are in compliance with child labour standards.
Tracking improvements over multiple years to clearly show how the company‚s efforts are making an impact.
It is not sufficient if:
The company only provides data for a single point in time without showing comparisons or trends.
The data is not connected to a clear analysis of progress or does not indicate measurable improvement in child labour issues
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report