BSCI Manual Child Labor Issues

BSCI Manual Child Labor Issues
The purpose of the BSCI Guide is to provide some explanations and examples of the application of the BSCI standard requirements to auditors and other users. It is not intended to be comprehensive and does not cover all matters that arise during the interpretation or implementation process when applying for a workplace. The brief guidance document is amplified by several other sources that provide additional, updated explanatory information for applying for the BSCI. You will find these sources on SAI's website and in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). When read together with this guide, most questions regarding applying for the BSCI for any particular workplace should be answered. An explanatory answer to any question that does not address those queries will result in the FAQ material.

Child Labor-Standard Requirements and Interpretations

Standard requirements

The Company shall not engage in or support the use of child labor as defined above. The Company shall establish, document, maintain, and effectively communicate to personnel and other interested parties, policies and written procedures for remediating children found in circumstances that fit the definition of child labor as defined above, and shall provide adequate financial and other support to allow such children to remain in school until they are no longer a child as defined above. The Company may employ young workers, but if young workers are subject to compulsory education laws, they may only attend after-school hours. In no case shall the school, work, and commuting time of any one young worker exceed 10 hours per day, and in no case shall the combined total young worker work time exceed 8 hours per day. Young workers may not work during the night hours. The Company shall not place child or young workers in any circumstances - outside the workplace - that are hazardous or unsafe for their physical and mental health and development.

definition
1. Definition of child: Anyone under the age of 15, unless a minimum age for work or compulsory education is provided by local law, in which case the higher age in that area applies.
2. Definition of Young Worker: Any worker over the age of 18 years old, as defined above, and under the age of 18 years.
3. Definition of Child Labour: Any work performed by a child younger than the age(s) specified for a child in the above definition, except as provided in ILO Recommendation 146.
4. Effectively communicate the company’s child labor control policies and procedures in a manner that will be received and understood by actual personnel and others.