Afrooz reported that it is clear that the impact of the Corona pandemic will be uneven, as the poorest countries bear the brunt of the repercussions, and this includes 1.2 million children in Bangladesh who are involved in the harsh forms of child labor, indicating that in such turbulent times, these children and millions of others are in Other places are more vulnerable to exploitative and dangerous work.
The country coordinator for Bangladesh noted the simplicity of the reasons behind this, noting that when major global retail outlets canceled orders due to cuts related to closures that were taken to limit the repercussions of the spread of Corona, low-cost fashion production operations stopped in most parts of the world. , Which left many garment workers in the global south without income.
Since last March, Bangladesh’s exports of leather goods have decreased by 22%, and the footwear industry there, which is the eighth largest in the world, has also been affected, with exports in general declining by 50% since the start of the epidemic … and with leather goods producers facing canceled requests and restrictions to slow transmission ( Covid-19) The informal, informal sector is becoming more and more competitive, as factory owners operating in this sector target children as cheap labor.
According to anecdotal information, in the informal leather sector, children often work long hours for little or no pay, and they often perform physically, psychologically and dangerous work during the production process .. But despite the risks, most children depend on such jobs to support themselves. And their families.
The country coordinator for Bangladesh in the Child Labor Federation indicated that at present the tanneries are slowly resuming their production operations, and raw materials are directed to factories that meet the new international demands, which leads to a relative scarcity of materials needed for local production.
She warned that this creates another opportunity for leather producers in the unorganized informal sector to increase the exploitation of children, especially since their ability to intervene to meet local demand depends on increasing child exploitation .. Pointing out that Bangladesh has laws and policies to deal with dangerous and exploitative child labor, However, the matter is not without gaps in political mechanisms. For example, the labor law in Bangladesh does not cover the informal sector.
In this context, Afroz stressed that international brands and companies have a favorable opportunity to help and extend a helping hand, stressing the need for global retail outlets to be aware not only of the immediate financial impact of canceling orders, but also of unintended consequences on both the formal and informal sectors.
She said, “This means dealing with the problem holistically, as established brands and their customers are well informed of where, how and who is producing goods, how to produce them, and who is doing so .. Brands need to take responsibility for ensuring ethical behavior across their supply chain.” The most stringent monitoring is necessary to ensure that all suppliers, international and local, meet the same standards in terms of labor laws and working conditions. ” She added, “There is a need for a transparent system to track sources of raw materials and to ensure that children are not used in forced labor or working in dangerous conditions.”
She noted that while many initiatives have been launched to protect working children in recent decades, they are often insufficient, as tracking the long supply chain is difficult, so the culture of violence persists at its origin, which is supported by structural inequalities incorporated by the continuing global demand for Inexpensive products in the production process.
She emphasized that having to comply with the monitoring system would prevent suppliers from subcontracting their work with informal and often unregulated companies, in which workers, including many children, work in harmful and dangerous conditions.
She noted that responsible brands can also implement the “positive deviance” approach, and publicly participate in their ethical business strategies and practices, which may encourage other brands to investigate their own practices in turn.
The country coordinator for Bangladesh at the Child Labor Federation stressed the need for relevant government agencies, civil society groups and private sector organizations to focus on enforcing existing policies and protecting children’s rights, as well as for both international and local brands to be held accountable with regard to their duty to care for children.
It also called for all companies to adhere to minimum age requirements, maintain standard working hours, and ensure safe workplace conditions, noting that to ensure compliance, companies employing children must have a multi-stakeholder consultation system, including government representatives. Civil society, human rights organizations and academia, as well as social workers.
She said that protecting children from harmful work and modern slavery in industries such as leather industries requires listening to children themselves, who rarely participate in decision-making in the workplace, especially during shocks such as the Corona pandemic when they are more vulnerable to exposure to dangerous conditions, and it can be Learning from them about their experiences throughout the production process is pivotal in improving their well-being.
She pointed out that the epidemic exposed the complexities of global supply chains and the vulnerability of the people working in them. Even in normal times, children are vulnerable to exploitation by informal, unorganized companies that will start businesses where other companies cannot do so .. But this risk is now greater than Ever.
Afrouz concluded by noting that understanding global supply chains and the impact of sudden changes on the vulnerable people who make up their links is critical, and child advocates and policy makers must develop and implement strong accountability systems and implement them to support the rights of millions of children – in Bangladesh and globally – who are forced by circumstances. To work.
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