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APPENDIX 1
Insights from an Auditor in India : Child Labor is Most Prominent Among Subcontractors

APPENDIX 1

Insights from an Auditor in India : Child Labor is Most Prominent Among Subcontractors

Disclaimer : The following story is based on an in-depth interview CCR CSR conducted with a senior auditor based in India . In order to protect his identity , an alias was used throughout the story . The views presented in this article are based on the interview transcripts and do not necessarily reflect the views of CCR CSR .
“ We have been auditing in main manufactory units , where we have never come across child labor . It is in the supply chain outside the main factories where we found instances of child labor .” Mr . Ganesh has over 15 years of auditing experience in industries covering apparels , sports goods , agricultural products , jewelry and home goods and has conducted assessments and verification of reports indicating child labor .
As part of his role , Mr . Ganesh has travelled to provinces far and wide across India to conduct audits . This has given him an in-depth insight into the reasons for child labor and also into how it takes shape .
“ Last year , we did a pilot research study initiated by a social compliance initiative for some European brands on home workers and child labor in the footwear supply chain , in which we witnessed children working from home in some villages in South India . There are some communities , in which women usually work from home due to cultural reasons and preferred to work at home during their spare time after house chores ( attaching uppers to shoe soles ). We noticed that some shoes were hand stitched at home by children to help their parents after school .”
Mr . Ganesh ’ s discovery suggests that routine factory audits do not always represent the full picture when it comes to child labor . Most of the children who work from home are not directly hired but work along with elders at home , to whom work is outsourced through local subcontractors and therefore often fails to come under the radar of brands and auditors .
As far as child laborers go , the ones who have time to study and work are arguably the fortunate ones . There are plenty of children in India who forsake schooling altogether to work . As Mr . Ganesh explains , many schools across India are not well established . Often they are located far from the children ’ s homes and many suffer from high teacher absenteeism rates . What ’ s more , many parents don ’ t see their children ’ s education as an investment but as a potential threat to the family unit . Some of the parents who have been involved with such work , expressed reservations about sending their children to school and preferred to involve them with the tradition of work being done so they could carry on with the family business .
“ Parents are scared that if the children go to school , they are exposed and learn too much , they will find a job in the city and leave them alone at home in the villages ,” Mr . Ganesh tells us .
One can therefore argue that in many cases , the seeds of child labor have been sewn in the family home , where parents ’ lack of awareness of the importance and value in education translates into children shunning the classroom in favor of work . Further adding to the complexity of the situation , Mr . Ganesh does not believe that simply removing the child laborers from the workplace is the best solution :
Best Response : Auditors ’ Insights on Child Labor in Asia 24