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The Global Challenge to Eliminate Child Labour Through International Treaties
Tom Zwijnenburg ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study asks how far international treaties and related instruments that prohibit child labour can help remove it from the supply chains of multinational companies (MNCs). It first reviews the international framework, then looks at how two companies, Philips and Nestle, apply it in practice. The study confirms criticisms that the framework is hard to enforce, uses weak language and depends on social pressure. It also finds that the flexibility of voluntary instruments creates new opportunities. Combining several instruments within a due diligence approach tailored to each company often worked better than any single instrument.
Key points
- The framework is criticised for lack of enforceability, weak language and dependence on social pressure.
- The flexibility of voluntary instruments opens up new potential.
- Philips and Nestle each developed their own approach, centred on due diligence, that fitted their way of doing business.
- Combining various instruments was often effective and contributed more to eliminating child labour than a single instrument.
- The study stresses the importance of a good fit between the framework and the individual company.
Limitations
The abstract describes only two company case studies and gives no data, methods detail or measured outcomes for children. It names no countries, so we cannot tell whether the findings apply to other companies, sectors or settings.
Abstract
This study examines the extent to which the international regulatory framework on the prohibition of child labour can contribute to the elimination of child labour from the supply chains of MNCs. It starts with an assessment of the framework and how it sets global human and labour rights prohibiting child labour and offers guidance to MNCs in respecting these rights. Based on this knowledge two case studies are conducted in Philips and Nestle to link theory with practice to get a more realistic insight into the implementation and contribution of the framework. The results agree with criticism on the framework regarding the lack of enforceability, weak language and dependency on social pressure but also finds that the flexibility of voluntary instruments opens up new potential. Centred around due diligence, MNCs developed unique approaches that fit well with their way of doing business. Compiled of various instruments this approach was often effective and contributed more to the elimination of child labour than a single instrument. This study underlines the importance of a good fit between the framework and an MNC and when implemented right, voluntary instruments have despite their weakness, the potential to contribute to the elimination of child labour and fill the gap until CSR becomes mandatory through national legislation.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Company due diligence approaches that combine international voluntary instruments on child labour (in the abstract, applied by Philips and Nestle)
- Population
- Two multinational companies, Philips and Nestle, and their supply chains
Key finding
The framework itself is weak on enforceability and relies on social pressure.
Zwijnenburg · Crossref · 1 Jan 2026