Child and forced labour are deeply embedded and hidden within the textile supply chain, making it harder for businesses to ensure sustainable solutions. 

Many children engaged in cotton related activities work long hours, way above the limit set by national legislation and may receive little or no pay. Children may also manipulate harmful pesticides and work in isolation, in extreme temperatures, without sufficient food and rest and in conditions which can seriously harm their physical and psychological development. Often this work is at the expense of their education.

(https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@ipec/documents/publication/wcms_650173.pdf)

- Globally, 152 million children aged 5-17 are engaged in child labour.

- 73 million of which are exposed to hazardous work, one of the worst forms of child labour.

- 71% of child labour is in agriculture.

- 20% of African children (1 in 5) are in child labour;

- 7.4% of Asian children are in child labour.

- 25 million men, women and children were victims of various forms of forced labour, including forced labour exploitation, forced sexual exploitation and State-imposed forced labour.

This project is being implemented over a four-year period (March 2018 – February 2022) and targets the following four countries: Peru, Pakistan, Mali, and Burkina Faso. 

In support of the partners listed above, The Clear Cotton Project is aiming to combat the elimination of child and forced labour through two routes of action (with breakdowns included within the project’s manifesto):

1.    Strengthening policy, legal and regulatory frameworks to combat child and forced labour in the cotton, textile and garment sector

2.    Supporting local governments, public services providers, and other relevant stakeholders to take effective action to stop child labour and forced labour in target cotton growing districts and communities and garment/textiles factories

As part of past and ongoing initiatives, governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, private companies, producers and their organizations, and civil society organizations are reshaping their roles to strengthen the governance and the sustainability of the supply chain, including appropriate mechanisms to eliminate child labour and forced labour. 

(https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@ipec/documents/publication/wcms_650172.pdf)

ALLIANCE 8.7 

The project contributes to Alliance 8.7 which is an inclusive global partnership that aims to provide strategic coordination of the diverse stakeholders with an interest in achieving Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals on “Taking immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.”