Proactive prevention right from the supply chain helps businesses reduce legal risks, protect their brands and meet increasingly strict market requirements.
Taking advantage of not cost, but investment
According to guidelines for businesses, preventing and combating child labor needs to be approached systematically, not stopping at formal commitments but must be implemented throughout the entire supply chain.
From the perspective of the employer's representative, Ms. Tran Thi Hong Lien - Deputy Director of the Office of Employers of the gender (VCCI) - emphasized the need to change the thinking of businesses on this issue.
The costs and resources for law compliance activities, including the prevention and control of child labor, are not costs but must be considered long-term investment, Ms. Lien affirmed.
According to her, when businesses have joined the global supply chain, complying with labor standards and bringing benefits to workers and children will become an important competitive advantage in the integration process.
Developing a policy of not using child labor
The first step is that businesses need to issue clear policies on not using child labor, applicable to both internal operations and partners in the supply chain. This policy needs to be consistent with Vietnamese law and international standards, disseminated to all employees and suppliers, and become a part of corporate culture.
At the same time, businesses need to proactively assess the risks of child labor in the supply chain, focusing on small-scale production stages, subcontractors, and out-of-works processing facilities - places with high risks but often under little supervision.
Increasing supply chain appraisal capacity
According to Ms. Tran Thi Hong Lien, controlling child labor cannot be a single effort of each enterprise.
It is difficult to practice compliance at the enterprise itself, but being responsible and controlling the entire supply chain is much more difficult, she acknowledged.
Therefore, enhancing supply chain appraisal capacity is an urgent requirement. Enterprises need to coordinate with brands, representative organizations and specific instructions to improve their skills in evaluating and supervising suppliers, especially lower-level suppliers.
Building corporate culture and training human resources
A safe supply chain can only be formed when businesses build a culture of respect for children's rights from within.
According to Ms. Hong Lien's recommendation, businesses need to develop codes of conduct, including clear commitments on not using child labor; at the same time, organize regular training for management staff, purchasing department, supply chain and direct employees.
The training helps relevant departments clearly understand what constitutes child labor, identify risks early and have appropriate handling when detecting signs of violations during the process of working with suppliers.
Coordinate with all parties to prevent sustainability
Enterprises also need to establish a mechanism to receive feedback when detecting child labor, coordinate with families, schools and local authorities to support children to return to school, and at the same time review the causes to prevent recurrence.
According to experts, the prevention and control of child labor can only be sustainable when there is close coordination between businesses, state management agencies, trade unions, social organizations and local communities.
Preventing and combating child labor in the supply chain is not only an obligation to comply with the law, but a strategic choice. Businesses acting early will reduce risks, enhance reputation and maintain their position in the long term.
