OCE-C.01.B - Child Labour Remediation Programme Contribution
Does the company describe how it develops, participates in or contributes to child labour remediation programmes?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Accurate statistics on the number of children working at sea are unavailable, but estimates
suggest up to 10 million children may be involved. Child labour deprives them of their childhood,
education and dignity, posing serious risks to their emotional and physical development. It is often
exploitative and dangerous and perpetuates cycles of poverty, limiting future societal growth and
sustainable development. Businesses, 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)
suggest up to 10 million children may be involved. Child labour deprives them of their childhood,
education and dignity, posing serious risks to their emotional and physical development. It is often
exploitative and dangerous and perpetuates cycles of poverty, limiting future societal growth and
sustainable development. Businesses, 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