VF Corp. has created a new Child Rights Action Pledge to strengthen children’s rights and eliminate child labor throughout the global apparel supply chain by 2025. As part of its pledge, VF commits to integrate the Children’s Rights and Business Principles developed by UNICEF, the United Nations Global Compact and Save the Children. The principles aim to maximize positive contributions and minimize negative impacts on children.
In addition, VF will continue to strengthen its child rights efforts through:
- increased due diligence in VF’s upstream supply chain
- a formalized Child Rights Policy inclusive of protocols for prevention, mitigation and remediation of child labor
- enhanced review and assessment of supply chain purchasing practices, wages and working conditions for parents and caregivers to understand potential contributions to child labor risks
- enhanced NGO partnerships focused on supporting children, advancing education and addressing the root causes of child labor
The United Nations declared 2021 the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor. According to the International Labor Organization, 152 million children are still working, although child labor has decreased by 38 percent in the last decade.
Photo: Gyan Shahane on Unsplash
