Supply chain monitoring
What do we do if we find child labour being used?
If we discover people who are below the statutory minimum age for working we always act in their best interests.
Agreement on a good solution
On the few occasions on which we have discovered underage workers at our suppliers we have acted in accordance with our policy. In co-operation with the supplier we have tried to find a solution that is in the best interests of the child. The family is contacted and in most cases the family accepts that the child should continue with some kind of education until he or she is 15 years old, or the lawful age for working in the country in question (but not lower than 14 years). Wages continue to be paid during the study period so that the family does not lose its income. In certain cases an older member of the household has been offered work instead of the child. In a few cases the child and the family concerned preferred the solution of the child returning to his or her home, which may be hundreds of kilometres away. In such cases the supplier has made a one-off payment to compensate for the cost of the ticket and loss of wages.
A better future
On each individual occasion our ultimate aim is to help the child to a better future. Our policy in respect of child labour must not result in children being dismissed from factories without any follow-up, with the risk that he or she will instead end up in heavier and more dangerous work or - in the worst case - in prostitution. In order to assure ourselves of this in the best way possible we have built up networks of local contacts such as schools and voluntary organisations, who know the local circumstances and can help us to find good solutions.
Age assessment
We also have contacts with doctors who can help us to judge the age of those who we think look particularly young during our factory audits. Often no documentation is found and in the worst case neither the families nor the child knows how old he or she is. Lack of documentation is a big problem and we are constantly working on getting our suppliers to improve their routines, so that they can give a serious assurance that everyone who is working in their factory has reached the lawful age for employment. We require some kind of proof of age to be checked on employment, or if there is no such proof for a doctor to examine the person concerned to establish his or her approximate age.
If we find child labour more than once
Since we take child labour very seriously we are very strict in respect of our suppliers. The first time a child is discovered working for a supplier or one of his subcontractors we demand that the supplier takes his responsibilities seriously and together with H&M finds a solution that is in the best interests of the child. If we find child labour being employed by the same supplier - or one of his subcontractors - on a second occasion we cease our co-operation with the supplier for good. This has also occurred on a few occasions.